Manderley - a house echoing with whispered secrets and murmurs from the wraiths of the past. A creepy housekeeper, a society that spurns her, the ill-fated Rebecca herself, the second Mrs de Winter has a lot to uncover. Brimming with dark mystery, du Maurier’s “Rebecca” published in 1938 is a upstanding exemplar of the gothic novel, ever popular since the 18th century.
The book follows our unnamed protagonist, a naive young woman who meets the enigmatic Maximilian de Winter on holiday in Monte Carlo and is promptly whisked away to the charming estate of Manderley following a whirlwind romance.
But is Manderley really what it seems? Haunted by the traces of the late Mrs de Winter, our protagonist is greeted by a society in awe of the grand balls thrown by the society belle that was Rebecca. She navigates the challenges of the household where the surly Mrs Danvers looms sinister, watching over her.
As time goes on a timeless tale unfolds where our narrator is consumed by thoughts of the late Rebecca and as events unfold we are gripped by the dark mysteries and plot twists that will have you reading the book fervently flipping pages to unravel the dark mysteries that shroud Manderley.
As I was reading, I found myself entranced by the captivating characters that loomed larger than life on the page and the narration that unfolded in 1st person meant that as the narrator discovered the secrets around the manor; it felt like you were there too.
The whole premise of the novel was extremely interesting and definitely a must-read for fans of the Gothic with its gripping plot twists that you never see coming. Du Maurier’s novel has truly stood the test of time remaining every bit alluring as it was all those years ago with emotions that are still starkly felt by people every day now. As one reader I talked to, so aptly said, “it’s the perfect read for anyone young or old.” No wonder it’s never gone out of print!
