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Daphne du Maurier Collection: Rebecca/Frenchman's Creek/Jamaica Inn
Three of Daphne du Maurier's spellbinding novels on CD in one specially priced pack
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1942
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About the author
Daphne du Maurier
425 books10.2k followersDaphne du Maurier was born on 13 May 1907 at 24 Cumberland Terrace, Regent's Park, London, the middle of three daughters of prominent actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and actress Muriel, née Beaumont. In many ways her life resembles a fairy tale. Born into a family with a rich artistic and historical background, her paternal grandfather was author and Punch cartoonist George du Maurier, who created the character of Svengali in the 1894 novel Trilby, and her mother was a maternal niece of journalist, author, and lecturer Comyns Beaumont. She and her sisters were indulged as a children and grew up enjoying enormous freedom from financial and parental restraint. Her elder sister, Angela du Maurier, also became a writer, and her younger sister Jeanne was a painter.
She spent her youth sailing boats, travelling on the Continent with friends, and writing stories. Her family connections helped her establish her literary career, and she published some of her early work in Beaumont's Bystander magazine. A prestigious publishing house accepted her first novel when she was in her early twenties, and its publication brought her not only fame but the attentions of a handsome soldier, Major (later Lieutenant-General Sir) Frederick Browning, whom she married.
She continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now/Not After Midnight. While Alfred Hitchcock's films based upon her novels proceeded to make her one of the best-known authors in the world, she enjoyed the life of a fairy princess in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.
Daphne du Maurier was obsessed with the past. She intensively researched the lives of Francis and Anthony Bacon, the history of Cornwall, the Regency period, and nineteenth-century France and England. Above all, however, she was obsessed with her own family history, which she chronicled in Gerald: A Portrait, a biography of her father; The du Mauriers, a study of her family which focused on her grandfather, George du Maurier, the novelist and illustrator for Punch; The Glassblowers, a novel based upon the lives of her du Maurier ancestors; and Growing Pains, an autobiography that ignores nearly 50 years of her life in favour of the joyful and more romantic period of her youth. Daphne du Maurier can best be understood in terms of her remarkable and paradoxical family, the ghosts which haunted her life and fiction.
While contemporary writers were dealing critically with such subjects as the war, alienation, religion, poverty, Marxism, psychology and art, and experimenting with new techniques such as the stream of consciousness, du Maurier produced 'old-fashioned' novels with straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience's love of fantasy, adventure, sexuality and mystery. At an early age, she recognised that her readership was comprised principally of women, and she cultivated their loyal following through several decades by embodying their desires and dreams in her novels and short stories.
In some of her novels, however, she went beyond the technique of the formulaic romance to achieve a powerful psychological realism reflecting her intense feelings about her father, and to a lesser degree, her mother. This vision, which underlies Julius, Rebecca and The Parasites, is that of an author overwhelmed by the memory of her father's commanding presence. In Julius and The Parasites, for example, she introduces the image of a domineering but deadly father and the daring subject of incest.
In Rebecca, on the other hand, du Maurier fuses psychological realism with a sophisticated version of the Cinderella story.
She spent her youth sailing boats, travelling on the Continent with friends, and writing stories. Her family connections helped her establish her literary career, and she published some of her early work in Beaumont's Bystander magazine. A prestigious publishing house accepted her first novel when she was in her early twenties, and its publication brought her not only fame but the attentions of a handsome soldier, Major (later Lieutenant-General Sir) Frederick Browning, whom she married.
She continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now/Not After Midnight. While Alfred Hitchcock's films based upon her novels proceeded to make her one of the best-known authors in the world, she enjoyed the life of a fairy princess in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.
Daphne du Maurier was obsessed with the past. She intensively researched the lives of Francis and Anthony Bacon, the history of Cornwall, the Regency period, and nineteenth-century France and England. Above all, however, she was obsessed with her own family history, which she chronicled in Gerald: A Portrait, a biography of her father; The du Mauriers, a study of her family which focused on her grandfather, George du Maurier, the novelist and illustrator for Punch; The Glassblowers, a novel based upon the lives of her du Maurier ancestors; and Growing Pains, an autobiography that ignores nearly 50 years of her life in favour of the joyful and more romantic period of her youth. Daphne du Maurier can best be understood in terms of her remarkable and paradoxical family, the ghosts which haunted her life and fiction.
While contemporary writers were dealing critically with such subjects as the war, alienation, religion, poverty, Marxism, psychology and art, and experimenting with new techniques such as the stream of consciousness, du Maurier produced 'old-fashioned' novels with straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience's love of fantasy, adventure, sexuality and mystery. At an early age, she recognised that her readership was comprised principally of women, and she cultivated their loyal following through several decades by embodying their desires and dreams in her novels and short stories.
In some of her novels, however, she went beyond the technique of the formulaic romance to achieve a powerful psychological realism reflecting her intense feelings about her father, and to a lesser degree, her mother. This vision, which underlies Julius, Rebecca and The Parasites, is that of an author overwhelmed by the memory of her father's commanding presence. In Julius and The Parasites, for example, she introduces the image of a domineering but deadly father and the daring subject of incest.
In Rebecca, on the other hand, du Maurier fuses psychological realism with a sophisticated version of the Cinderella story.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 15, 2025
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
What a thriller!
I am not sure what the critics say about Rebecca.
- Is this a love story for the scholars?
The sure thing is that the novel is widely appreciated and included on the Modern Library List of best 100 novels of the 20th century.
What has struck me most on the second look at this awesome book is the way it keeps you on the edge of seat, or with your heart pounding, depending on how you read it.
In my case, the second encounter has been through an adaptation for the National radio, which has highlighted some of the main points and made me think again about some of my first conclusions, which had been too favorable to Max de Winter.
The hero is after all a killer.
- But what about Rebecca?
This is a strange occurrence and I can hardly think of another heroine at the center stage of a novel or play with such villainous inclinations and habits.
A she-devil.
The story starts with a dream and a trip into the past:
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again... I came upon it suddenly; the approach masked by the unnatural growth of a vast shrub that spread in all directions...”
After the dream, we meet a young woman who is employed by an obnoxious American. We also meet Maximilian de Winter, a rich widower that had gained my sympathy at the first read and also when played by Laurence Olivier in the film adaptation.
But even if he gains the affection of the young woman who would become the second Mrs. De Winter, Max is a rather repulsive character on my third encounter with him.
He is rude to his would be wife and the circumstances do explain his behavior, but it still seems awkward to like a man who shouts at his date, sends her packing, then marries her only to abandon and abuse her once in a while.
There are some moments of maximum tension:
When the second Mrs. De Winter smashes a porcelain object and hides it in a drawer, fearing the reaction of the housekeeper- Mrs. Danvers.
The story has in fact two harpies: the Supreme Witch, Rebecca and her devoted companion, Mrs. Danvers, who goes as far as to push her new mistress to suicide, which she does not commit, Alhamdulillah.
Mrs. Danvers gives only evil advice and she pushes the new mistress to dress in a most inappropriate way. This cause a terrible reaction from Max de Winter, who proves again to be a complex character, that I do not like anymore- I remember how good I felt about the love story between this man and his second wife on the first two occasions, but now I resent the murderer.
It is true that some of the events tend to justify cold blooded murder and pass it as a kind of a humane act, like putting to sleep an animal. I do not buy this now: when a murder had been committed, even if the dead person was intolerable and despicable, it is still a horrible deed and the killer cannot have our sympathy.
The story is very good and the fact that with every reading I feel different emotions and see the characters in various shades of (grey?) colors may stand as proof to that.
What a thriller!
I am not sure what the critics say about Rebecca.
- Is this a love story for the scholars?
The sure thing is that the novel is widely appreciated and included on the Modern Library List of best 100 novels of the 20th century.
What has struck me most on the second look at this awesome book is the way it keeps you on the edge of seat, or with your heart pounding, depending on how you read it.
In my case, the second encounter has been through an adaptation for the National radio, which has highlighted some of the main points and made me think again about some of my first conclusions, which had been too favorable to Max de Winter.
The hero is after all a killer.
- But what about Rebecca?
This is a strange occurrence and I can hardly think of another heroine at the center stage of a novel or play with such villainous inclinations and habits.
A she-devil.
The story starts with a dream and a trip into the past:
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again... I came upon it suddenly; the approach masked by the unnatural growth of a vast shrub that spread in all directions...”
After the dream, we meet a young woman who is employed by an obnoxious American. We also meet Maximilian de Winter, a rich widower that had gained my sympathy at the first read and also when played by Laurence Olivier in the film adaptation.
But even if he gains the affection of the young woman who would become the second Mrs. De Winter, Max is a rather repulsive character on my third encounter with him.
He is rude to his would be wife and the circumstances do explain his behavior, but it still seems awkward to like a man who shouts at his date, sends her packing, then marries her only to abandon and abuse her once in a while.
There are some moments of maximum tension:
When the second Mrs. De Winter smashes a porcelain object and hides it in a drawer, fearing the reaction of the housekeeper- Mrs. Danvers.
The story has in fact two harpies: the Supreme Witch, Rebecca and her devoted companion, Mrs. Danvers, who goes as far as to push her new mistress to suicide, which she does not commit, Alhamdulillah.
Mrs. Danvers gives only evil advice and she pushes the new mistress to dress in a most inappropriate way. This cause a terrible reaction from Max de Winter, who proves again to be a complex character, that I do not like anymore- I remember how good I felt about the love story between this man and his second wife on the first two occasions, but now I resent the murderer.
It is true that some of the events tend to justify cold blooded murder and pass it as a kind of a humane act, like putting to sleep an animal. I do not buy this now: when a murder had been committed, even if the dead person was intolerable and despicable, it is still a horrible deed and the killer cannot have our sympathy.
The story is very good and the fact that with every reading I feel different emotions and see the characters in various shades of (grey?) colors may stand as proof to that.
April 21, 2020
I read the first of the three novels, Rebecca.
This was the first time reading any Daphne du Maurier outside of her short stories. She has a beautiful way of getting you to doubt the motives of a character. At moments you aren't sure if the narrator's paranoia and insecurities are all in her head or if it's all real.
This was the first time reading any Daphne du Maurier outside of her short stories. She has a beautiful way of getting you to doubt the motives of a character. At moments you aren't sure if the narrator's paranoia and insecurities are all in her head or if it's all real.
November 23, 2020
I was new to DuMaurier but love her tense, atmospheric writing.
June 20, 2017
I've read Rebecca, the first of the three romantic novels in this book. Though I've seen the excellent adaptation of this book by Hitchcock numerous times it's my first time reading it. It's wonderful. So well written, imagined, the second Mrs. de Winter thoughts, her imagination drive the narrative of this wonderful story. I'm anxious to read more of Du Maurier'a work.
May 25, 2020
Read the Frenchman’s Creek the second time in the lazy Memorial Sunday afternoon Shelter in place at home. What an delicious glorious escape for our own house for a half day! Never tired of Du Maurier’s writing and story telling.
April 22, 2025
The Frenchman's Creek is a pretty weak story. Compared to what Daphne had previously written, this is one of the worst of her stories. Typical plot, boring storyline, easily predicted end. Wouldn't recommend this book.
September 11, 2020
Seriously boring.
January 23, 2025
Jamaica Inn - brilliant and gripping! A fantastic story and descriptive setting really sets the scene (avoid watching the film version!)
May 27, 2013
well, just to clarify, i read Jamaica inn, but search results only gave me this.
Jamaica inn is a wonderful story about a young farm girl called Mary Yellan whose mother, after many years of hard labor and taking care of her farm and daughter, died. Mary had to move in with her sweet aunt Patience, who she has always remembered to be happy, lively and daring.she soon found out that her aunt had gotten married to a bartender, and now lives at Jamaica inn, her uncle's bar/ inn. since her arrival, she had hated her uncle. he was a disgustingly cruel bully that had withered her aunt to a weak old woman that hardly stopped her fits of tears around her husband yet bent over backwards to please him.Mary soon discovers that her uncle has a secret room, and yearning for an adventure, and filled with curiosity, she watches her uncle warily, trying to find a way to send him to jail, and save her aunt. she soon meets his brother, and despite her resistance, finds herself falling in love with him. one day after her uncle storms out, she decides to follow him and ends up getting lost, fortunately she is found by an albino vicar. they become friends almost instantly and she tells him all about her problems, he offers his support and the warmth of his home when in need. eventually she discovers that her uncle is the worst kind of criminal; a wrecker. she then develops a plan to send him to jail with the help of the vicar. on the night that they plan to get away, Mary sneaks out an walks over to the vicar's house, only to find him gone. she then goes over to the house of the vicar's friend only to find him gone as well,his wife tells her that he has gone to arrest a man, which is when Mary realizes that he had gone to arrest her uncle. the wife sends a man with Mary, to take her home and gives him a gun, in case they arrive at Jamaica inn before her husband. at their arrival Mary finds her uncle and aunt dead, and comes to the conclusion that the man that her uncle was working for had killed them. she then starts to live with the vicar that had offered her hospitality. after living in his house, and further investigation, he finds out that the man in charge of her uncle and the vicar, are the same man. he then takes her away with him as a hostage, telling her that she will be happy with him, all the while she is trying to keep her distance from him.eventually they are found and the vicar is killed by the man Mary loved, her uncle's horse-thief brother. she moves in with the vicar's old friend, who remains a friend to her, yet yearns to be back home, on her farm. one day she is reunited with the horse-thief who asks her to come with him, and after much consideration, she accepts to go with the man she loved, and live happily.
Jamaica inn is a wonderful story about a young farm girl called Mary Yellan whose mother, after many years of hard labor and taking care of her farm and daughter, died. Mary had to move in with her sweet aunt Patience, who she has always remembered to be happy, lively and daring.she soon found out that her aunt had gotten married to a bartender, and now lives at Jamaica inn, her uncle's bar/ inn. since her arrival, she had hated her uncle. he was a disgustingly cruel bully that had withered her aunt to a weak old woman that hardly stopped her fits of tears around her husband yet bent over backwards to please him.Mary soon discovers that her uncle has a secret room, and yearning for an adventure, and filled with curiosity, she watches her uncle warily, trying to find a way to send him to jail, and save her aunt. she soon meets his brother, and despite her resistance, finds herself falling in love with him. one day after her uncle storms out, she decides to follow him and ends up getting lost, fortunately she is found by an albino vicar. they become friends almost instantly and she tells him all about her problems, he offers his support and the warmth of his home when in need. eventually she discovers that her uncle is the worst kind of criminal; a wrecker. she then develops a plan to send him to jail with the help of the vicar. on the night that they plan to get away, Mary sneaks out an walks over to the vicar's house, only to find him gone. she then goes over to the house of the vicar's friend only to find him gone as well,his wife tells her that he has gone to arrest a man, which is when Mary realizes that he had gone to arrest her uncle. the wife sends a man with Mary, to take her home and gives him a gun, in case they arrive at Jamaica inn before her husband. at their arrival Mary finds her uncle and aunt dead, and comes to the conclusion that the man that her uncle was working for had killed them. she then starts to live with the vicar that had offered her hospitality. after living in his house, and further investigation, he finds out that the man in charge of her uncle and the vicar, are the same man. he then takes her away with him as a hostage, telling her that she will be happy with him, all the while she is trying to keep her distance from him.eventually they are found and the vicar is killed by the man Mary loved, her uncle's horse-thief brother. she moves in with the vicar's old friend, who remains a friend to her, yet yearns to be back home, on her farm. one day she is reunited with the horse-thief who asks her to come with him, and after much consideration, she accepts to go with the man she loved, and live happily.
October 10, 2025
This month we did something new and read an author - Daphne du Maurier. We gathered to discuss themes, similarities and differences in her books. It was quite interesting to note how many features overlapped. Things like: Much travelling; murder most foul; an over-active imagination; obsession; betrayal; etc.. She was quite a prolific author.
July 18, 2016
Rebecca - A bit scary when you find out what really happened to the first wife.
Frenchman's Creek - My favorite of the three. Conflicting emotions when you face the truth that the heroine is not with her husband.
Jamaica Inn - Spunky heroine
Frenchman's Creek - My favorite of the three. Conflicting emotions when you face the truth that the heroine is not with her husband.
Jamaica Inn - Spunky heroine
July 11, 2012
I just love her stories - she is one of the reasons I write my pale reflections!
April 11, 2013
I didn't read the anthology but did enjoy Jamaica Inn .. Especially when travelling to Cornwall by train in the winter !
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews