Our Shared Shelf discussion

In 1934, five years before Rebecca was published, Caroline Nabuco published A Sucessora. Set in Rio in the 1930s, it involves a woman who marries an older, richer widower. She moves into her manor and finds herself haunted by the presence of his first wife. She feels everyone compares her to the deceased, and that her husband still loves her.
There is a confusion in a Carnival ball, when the second wife dresses as the first wife, to the annoyance of her husband. She finds out that the governess is obsessed with the first wife, and most of the staff are still devoted to her.
After that the story develops in a different way. A Sucessora isn't a mystery, and we know the first wife died of an illness. It also speaks a lot about Brazil in that time, discussing racism, slavery, talking about how in the manner everything seemed to be imported from France, copied from Europe.

We know Carolina Nabuco herself translated the book to English and sent it to a publisher in New York, asking him to contact publishers in England. She also said in her memories that representatives of United Artists asked her to sign a declaration saying that the similarities between her book and Rebecca were a coincidence, but she refused to sign it.

I might be able to see it as mere inspiration, if not by the masquerade ball scene being way too specific and too similar to the carnival ball scene. Also, some friends of mine noticed a few common quotes. I think du Maurier wrote a different book, but borrowed way too much without acknowledging it. And it makes me sad because her book was the one that made a lot of money and became a Hollywood movie, while Nabuco's is half forgotten, even in Brazil. And it's not an isolated case of a first world writer crossing the line when dealing with a book from a third world writer, nor something that stayed in the past. Life of Pi borrowed even more from Max and the Cats, and still won several awards and became a movie, and that was only a few years ago.

What do you guys think about these allegations?

it seems a lot similar... and I dont like the idea of plagia too :/
anyway i like Rebecca. but I may read the brazilian book too if I can

I will read the two books before saying anything. Nowadays there are lots of books/movies/plays that have the same story but different context. I'm starting Rebecca right now but I take note from that book too (I hope it is in Spanish)

“To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.” ;)

Julia wrote: "In 1934, five years before Rebecca was published, Caroline Nabuco published A Sucessora. Set in Rio in the 1930s, it involves a woman who marries an older, richer widower. She moves into her manor ..."

This is what I love about this book group. I am learning new things from the collective knowledge of the members, and getting to discuss these things with people who don't think debating plagarism allegations regarding deceased authors is a waste of time.

As to your question about what I think, this is all new information to me. I would like to learn more before I pass judgement. I would particularly like to read "A Sucessora," if possible.

Interesting. I’ll have to check it out. Something that also popped into my head was Jane Eyre. Somewhat similar plot as well.

The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love

and Three Daughters of Eve

Guys, I'm really happy to see how many of you want to read A Sucessora. I think that's great because than we can all judge by ourselves and also because it's another third world woman becoming known outside her homeland. I'm trying to find out about translations, and whether her translated manuscript was ever published, since that's the version du Maurier is supposed to have read. If I find out more, I'll let you know.

Julia wrote: "Guys, I'm really happy to see how many of you want to read A Sucessora. I think that's great because than we can all judge by ourselves and also because it's another third world woman becoming know..."

That's so interesting Julia. I look forward to hearing if you found a published manuscript and would love to read also. 3/4 through Rebecca, can't put it down

I'd be interested too. Does anybody know about translations of it into other languages? My Portuguese is not good enough for a book like that.

Interesting. The second comment on the reviews of A Successora addresses this pretty well I think. The interesting thing is that in my copy, I read her remarks about a plagiarism case brought against her when the movie came out. She won the case, but it seems many want to claim they’re the first person to come up with the second wife jealous of the first wife theme? I don’t know, but in my opinion, it’s her writing that makes this book spectacular, not necessarily the plot line.

Here’s an article on that case brought against her: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/...