Rebecca by: Daphne du Maurier

review by: Laura Thiel '08

Daphne du Maurier’s novel, Rebecca, is essentially a romantic drama. Set in the late 1930s, this is the story of an insignificant young woman who meets a mysterious (yet wealthy) widower in Monte Carlo, named Maxim de Winter. Following a secretive and whirlwind romance, she agrees to marry Mr. de Winter. Despite their differences in age and social standing, the young Mrs. de Winter naively believes that she can make her new marriage a success, choosing to ignore the caution of her employer. 

Immediately after the honeymoon, the couple returns to Maxim’s English manor home, Manderly. Unanswered questions arise for the bride as she meets the household staff, including a formidable housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who was the personal maid of the late Rebecca de Winter. Constantly reminded of Rebecca’s presence, and routinely compared to her memory, Mrs. de Winter begins to question everything from her relationship with Max to her own psychological state.

The author’s use of vivid descriptions, dark instances of foreshadowing, and personal insight make this novel more than a just cautionary tale of romance. Du Maurier's style, therefore, successfully holds the readers’ attention, through the surprising climax, to the very end of this mysterious story.