HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Daphne Du Maurier, 13 May 1907
Daphne du Maurier
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”
She wrote one of the most haunting opening lines in English fiction, and she was a best-selling author for most of her life. She also created ‘Daphne du Maurier Country’ – the area of Cornwall where she set Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek, Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel and her other Cornish novels.
Jamaica Inn is currently up for sale – they have on display there her typewriter and her lovely old desk which sold at auction for a small fortune just after she died. I hope that whoever buys it will continue to open it to the public, but I also hope they learn how to make scones. When I took a tour group there some years ago we were served the very worst scones with jam and cream that I have ever eaten (or tried to eat!) in my life!
It is well worth visiting the lovely Cornish town of Fowey where she wrote her first novel The Loving Spirit about a Fowey boating family. You can do a guided Du Maurier walk and visit the Daphne du Maurier exhibition and bookshop in the tourist centre there.
Share your thoughts in the comment area below.
Susannah Fullerton: Daphne du Maurier and Rebecca
Susannah Fullerton: My Cousin Rachel
Susannah Fullerton: Companion Guide – Daphne du Maurier
Susannah Fullerton: Daphne du Maurier dies
books by Daphne du Maurier
I only recommend books I have read and know. Some of these links are my affiliate links. If you buy a book by clicking on one of these links I receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but does help cover the cost of producing my free newsletter.
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until approved.
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_PLUS]
Trevar Langlands
Recently bought the original B/W movie of Rebecca…looking forward to viewing it again
what great performances
Susannah Fullerton
I prefer the modern film version with Emilia Fox and Charles Dance, but the old one is still fun to watch.