Rebecca
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, first published in 1938, is a classic gothic novel with elements of mystery and suspense.
The protagonist of the book is a young and naïve woman, whose name is interestingly never revealed. Her mundane life as a paid companion to a rich lady goes for a toss as she meets and impetuously marries a rich and handsome middle-aged widower, Maxim de Winter. She sets off to live with him in hisfamous country estate Manderley, hoping to have a dreamy and luxurious life. She is thrilled and nervous at the prospect of being the mistress of Manderley. But what awaits her is a household filled with secrets and haunted by the memory of the late first wife, Rebecca, the titular character. She tries in vain to fit in and live up to the extremely high benchmark set by Rebecca in the minds of people, only to be reminded of her shortcomings. The mystery around Rebecca’s death also adds to her troubles.
The prose of this book is beautiful and richly detailed. Manderley, the mansion of the de Winters, with its massive iron gates, serpentine drive, bloodred rhododendrons, sprawling mossy lawns and magnificent yet old and secretive rooms, comes to life with the vivid description. The characters of the book, especially the brooding Mr. de Winter and the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers are well fleshed out. The book delves deep into the thoughts, feelings, insecurities and turbulences of the young protagonist. It focuses on her lack of identity and tendency to live in her dreams. The plot is structured cleverly and the story has its moments of suspense and surprises. Though it might feel melodramatic in parts, it is an immersive read.
This classic, just like its famous opening lines, ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’, stays with you long after you finish reading it.
