Rebecca

397 pages

English language

Published Nov. 11, 1976

ISBN:
978-0-330-24709-2
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Goodreads:
892601

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5 stars (2 reviews)

Rebecca is a 1938 Gothic novel written by English author Daphne du Maurier. The novel depicts an unnamed young woman who impetuously marries a wealthy widower, before discovering that both he and his household are haunted by the memory of his late first wife, the title character. A bestseller which has never gone out of print, Rebecca sold 2.8 million copies between its publication in 1938 and 1965. It has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen, including a 1939 play by du Maurier herself, the film Rebecca (1940), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the 2020 remake directed by Ben Wheatley for Netflix. The novel is remembered especially for the character Mrs Danvers, the West Country estate Manderley, and its opening line: "Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

9 editions

Review of 'Rebecca' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Beautifully-written and wrought with just the right level of detail, this was a rare book that made me want to slow down and savor the suspense in its plot, as well as the beauty of its environment and setting. Even in its predictable moments, I relished the dread and psychological distress of the narrator as she pieced together the puzzle of her seemingly beloved-predecessor. Just when I thought the book wouldn't surprise me, it did--and oh how I grew to loathe Rebecca!