Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 suspense novel tells the story of a young woman who marries a brooding older man. At his remote estate, she finds constant reminders of his dead wife, Rebecca. The story combines the atmosphere of a Gothic novel with a mystery about Rebecca’s character and her death.
Rebecca echoes the plot of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre (1847) with its naive heroine, Byronic hero, and mysterious first wife. Du Maurier incorporates elements that aren’t in the Bronte novel: sinister villains, serious crimes, and a modern understanding of obsession and repression. Both Jane Eyre and Rebecca serve as models for countless romantic suspense stories based on a fairy tale turned sour. Cinderella discovers that Prince Charming has warts and keeps a witch in his castle. What is she going to do about it? Not all great books become great movies, but this one did. Rebecca was Alfred Hitchcock’s first Hollywood movie and the only film he directed that won an academy award as best picture. By the time he directed it, he already had a reputation as the master of suspense and a 15-year career in British films, starting in the era of silent movies. Because of stringent Hollywood codes, this film version does not follow the ending of Daphne du Maurier’s novel. Leave a comment naming your favorite book of the last 225 years and your e-mail address for a chance to win an Advanced Readers' Edition of my latest Five-Ingredient Mystery, S'more Murders. The contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends on May 1st.
15 Comments
Robyn
4/15/2018 05:24:14 pm
A lot of people are fascinated with why and how things happen. Curiosity, and sometimes an obsession. Kind of like when people rubberneck when someone is pulled over on the shoulder of the road or highway. They want to know how that person got into that situation.
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Autumn Trapani
4/15/2018 06:37:50 pm
My all time favorite book has to be The Chosen by Chaim Potok. It taught me a lot about friendship and it is a book that I reread every so often just to spend time in that world.
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Deborah Nelson
4/15/2018 07:32:33 pm
I loved the movie Titanic. I read everything I can about it and have watched several tvs shows about it.My great grandfather was going to take the Titanic from Sweden to United states many many years ago. But it was full so he took another ship.
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Beverly Laude
4/15/2018 08:43:43 pm
To Kill a Mockingbird is my all time favorite.
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Pamela
4/15/2018 10:03:28 pm
While Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is my favorite novel for the epitome of comic characters and sharp repartee (not to mention Mr. Darcy). Hitchcock’s film interpretation of Du Maurier’s Rebecca has always been my very favorite film. I even prefer his ending to the original novel’s.
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Patricia Schneider
4/15/2018 10:32:11 pm
When I was a child in the 50s my favorite book was Fog Magic," by Julia L. Sauer. From the time I was young, I loved books about mysterious situations. This book led me to the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books and by then I was hooked
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Faith Creecj
4/15/2018 10:47:14 pm
I love the book Rebecca! It is my favorite book! I could read it and watch the movie and never tire of it. It is so suspenseful and well written.
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Laurianne Borsari
4/16/2018 09:49:24 am
Rebecca is always a favorite. Also, the story about the Titanic is always fascinating and I am looking forward to reading a Cozy version of it.
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Maureen Siebold
4/16/2018 11:36:38 am
Rebecca was and is my all time favourite. I have read it so many times I practically know it by heart.
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Patty Bierer
4/19/2018 07:46:47 pm
Actually Rebecca my all time favorite.
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Roseann Moss
4/27/2018 11:32:08 am
My favorite book is Hawaii by James Mitchner
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Amanda Wilcox
4/27/2018 01:38:44 pm
I don't understand our fascination with it other than the hope that it never happens again. History always intrigues me, especially the big events like this that don't surround war or anything but were incredible feats for their time. I love the story of the Titanic. I was in high school when the movie came out and I think I went to the theater to see it at least a half dozen times. Thanks for the chance to win! I'm new to your books and love the sound of them!
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Kay Garrett
4/28/2018 10:53:30 am
Honestly don't know if I could say an absolute favorite book. I seem to always love the one I'm reading. I do have a great love and affection for both cozy mysteries (especially ones that work history or real life situations in them) and Amish stories (because they usually tell a great story with a lesson if we just open ourselves up to finding it).
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Donamae
4/28/2018 07:28:56 pm
Gone with the wind is my favorite. Just the drama and history make it so interesting.
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Maya CorriganThis blog, like the books and stories I write, combines mysteries, food, trivia, and a bit of humor to leaven the grim subject of crime. Sometimes random subjects intrude here . Archives
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