The orange spine of the 1962 Penguin Class edition of Rebecca use to sit out against the white delicate spines of the world war two love romances that use to fill up my mams bookcase. The smell of the aged, crisp browned pages, the cover one of a haunting illustration - a face cast half in shadow, it's mouth and lips sad, a blackened tree branch creeping over it's eyes. It use to always call to me, it wanted me to turn the pages, yet I knew nothing about it, nothing of the Gothic romance, dark thriller embedded within the lines. Until I was about 12 and my whole world of reading changed.
Few books have a line that stains its way into your mind, it's a line that you carry for evermore;
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again".
I want to say the tale is haunting, but not in the sense of ghosts or ghouls. It's haunting in it's relationship between the characters, Manderely itself is a character, even the landscape upon which the house sits is one filled and built upon lies, despair and loss.
We come to the tale narrated through the unnamed female protagonist, a young, naivee 20 something, we come to learn of her life and transition from companion to becoming the second wife of the troubled, tortured English Maxim de Winter, a man haunted by the lingering memory of Rebecca - his first wife a women who died under mysterious circumstances. Troubled at every turn the second Mrs de Winter is reminded of her inadequacy of failing to rise to the experiences, understanding and standards set by her predecessor, most of all by the upturned housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. While it is not my place to suggest or even hint at the story or the outcome of the plot it is one, most especially an ending which remains haunting in my mind. It's a tale that will stick with you for years to come.
We come to the tale narrated through the unnamed female protagonist, a young, naivee 20 something, we come to learn of her life and transition from companion to becoming the second wife of the troubled, tortured English Maxim de Winter, a man haunted by the lingering memory of Rebecca - his first wife a women who died under mysterious circumstances. Troubled at every turn the second Mrs de Winter is reminded of her inadequacy of failing to rise to the experiences, understanding and standards set by her predecessor, most of all by the upturned housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. While it is not my place to suggest or even hint at the story or the outcome of the plot it is one, most especially an ending which remains haunting in my mind. It's a tale that will stick with you for years to come.
The Penguin Modern Classics edition of Rebecca still sits upon my mams bookcase, and me and my favourite book have been parted since I moved and left many of the books (all of my du Mauriers) behind in the UK. Luckily I've managed to rebuild my collection - now in hardback, original vintage editions from estate sales, but Rebecca is proving harder to find. Granted I could purchase it online, but I want the challenge of seeking it out, of finding the second Ms. de Winter and Mandeley.
Many say Rebecca is the 20th Jane Eyre or perhaps Wuthering Heights - with lost lovers taunting, haunting the protagonists. If you love a haunting read, one that will chill your soul and get you thinking, Rebecca is a must.
What's been your favorite all time read? Or even least favorite book?
Many say Rebecca is the 20th Jane Eyre or perhaps Wuthering Heights - with lost lovers taunting, haunting the protagonists. If you love a haunting read, one that will chill your soul and get you thinking, Rebecca is a must.
What's been your favorite all time read? Or even least favorite book?
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