Daphne du Maurier

Which other authors do you enjoy? Discuss them here.
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Rob Houghton
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Daphne du Maurier

Post by Rob Houghton »

I'm sure there must be a Daphne DuMaurier thread - I can't find it.

I was interested to hear that a new film version of 'My Cousin Rachel is coming to cinemas on 9 June. Looks good from the trailer, but obviously trailers can be deceptive!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l787QxuR51I
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 28 May 2017, 10:40, edited 1 time in total.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel

Post by Carlotta King »

That trailer looks pretty good. Rachel Weisz is a good choice I think; very attractive but not very young looking or anything, and not too old either.

I love the old original with Olivia DeHavilland but I could never quite properly enjoy her as Rachel, she just seemed a bit too severe looking in the role, and I always imagined Rachel as a bit more 'softly' beautiful if that makes sense, more like how Rachel Weisz looks in this one.
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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel

Post by Rob Houghton »

I think that's true. Rachel has to be soft and attractive, even vulnerable, but also with a hard and murderous side. If she'd made too hard and commanding, it makes it less likely that men would fall so easily under her spell. She is just about how I imagine Rachel to look.
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 28 May 2017, 13:10, edited 1 time in total.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Carlotta King
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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel

Post by Carlotta King »

Yeah, I totally agree. She's (Rachel W) definitely beautiful but not in a fragile 'pretty pretty' sense, you could definitely imagine her having the hidden murderous side too.

Olivia looked too old, she was undeniably nice looking but just not Rachel, in my eyes. In some shots she looked old enough and severe enough to be his mother, and that just made it not ring true for me. I couldn't imagine him wanting to fall in love with her and being captivated by her. I think that's the crux here - Rachel is supposed to be captivating and Olivia just didn't have that something.
I remember saying that to my mum too (who is a Daphne nut!) and she agreed.
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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel

Post by Domino »

I've got the 1983 BBC TV version with Geraldine Chaplin and Christopher Guard on DVD (copied from VHS). I must have recorded a later showing as it is all in one rather than four episodes, as originally shown. I didn't have a video recorder until 1993.

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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel

Post by floragord »

I recently joined the local book discussion group and attended the first meeting earlier in June, the book of choice was Tracey Chevalier's AT THE EDGE OF THE ORCHARD which I'd never normally have read, so no doubt other people's preferences extend our reading horizons! The next title listed is Daphne du Maurier's CASTLE DOR, one I had never heard of, and whilst ordering it on Amazon noticed MY COUSIN RACHEL which I had likewise not read, so ordered both. I started MY COUSIN RACHEL immediately, noticed the cover features the recently released movie of the same title starring Rachel Weisz, so I was interested in the comments above. I find the book absolutely superb, what writing! Perhaps a shade of REBECCA in the build-up of tension as the story begins? I can see I am in for a ddm season.
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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel, etc.

Post by Rob Houghton »

Daphne du Maurier is by far my favourite author of all time (after Enid!!) Castle Dor is one I haven't read, I must admit, although I do have it, in a box set of her novels.

I love My Cousin Rachel and also The Loving Spirit - her first novel, which I love. Rebecca is of course her masterpiece - and I have it in a first American edition. I also have a first edition of 'Rule Britannia' still to read!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel, etc.

Post by pete9012S »

I've only read 'Jamaica Inn' but found it to be extremely well written.The descriptions and the build up of tension as the book progresses is superb!
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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel, etc.

Post by Rob Houghton »

Jamaica Inn is of course one of her most famous books, after Rebecca - but I don't necessarily think its one of her best. I enjoy all of those I've read, and of course, it all depends on your own personal tastes. Many feel that Rebecca is too reflective and slow, but in my view its masterfully written, as is My Cousin Rachel. Like Enid, DuMaurier's strength is her characterisation. She really takes us into the story and we can get lost in it because its driven by such memorably written characters.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: Daphne du Maurier - My Cousin Rachel, etc.

Post by floragord »

I enjoyed the book group's discussion of CASTLE DOR - the consensus was that the book was a slow starter, I personally didn't feel it "got going" until page 137. It began life as the unfinished last novel of author Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, whose daughter asked DDM to complete the book, and I think it is her style that belatedly "lifts" the story. The intended recreation of the legend of Tristan and Iseult for me didn't happen, it felt too contrived and the ending was limp rather than tragic. I'll stick to REBECCA and MY COUSIN RACHEL!
"Its a magic wood!" said Fanny suddenly.
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Daphne du Maurier

Post by Rob Houghton »

I agree. Castle Dor is spoiled for me because it's not 'Daphne DuMaurier' in the true sense of the word!

Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel, Jamaica Inn and The Loving Spirit are my faves.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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What other author are you reading at the moment?

Post by Chrissie777 »

Split from another topic.

This is my "Rebecca" year. :)
I started months ago in June by reading Daphne DuMaurier's "The Rebecca Notebook", then read "Rebecca" by DDM (wonderful) followed by the sequel "Mrs. de Winter" by Susan Hill (it's better than I expected, I'm so glad I ignored the bad reviews on amazon), now I'm on page 580 of "Rebecca's Tale" by Sally Beauman (so very compelling).

I've watched the Hitchcock classic two days ago, then started watching the 1990's TV version of "Rebecca". I'll definitely get the 1970's TV version, because that one was filmed in Cornwall (Caerhays Castle).
Most likely I'll order Tatiana de Rosnay's biographical novel "Manderley Forever", too.

And last night I started reading "Rebecca: The Making of a Hollywood Classic" by Jennifer Wells. So far nothing new. I heard all this before in the new Criterion Collection of "Rebecca" from 2017.
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Re: What other author are you reading at the moment?

Post by Rob Houghton »

Chrissie777 wrote:This is my "Rebecca" year. :)
I started months ago in June by reading Daphne DuMaurier's "The Rebecca Notebook", then read "Rebecca" by DDM (wonderful) followed by the sequel "Mrs. de Winter" by Susan Hill (it's better than I expected, I'm so glad I ignored the bad reviews on amazon), now I'm on page 580 of "Rebecca's Tale" by Sally Beauman (so very compelling).
Of course, I've read Rebecca many times, as its one of my favourite books. I had it from the library to begin with, aged 17. That was the first time I read it. Then I bought it in paperback and reread it aged about 20, then reread it aged about 26 and have reread it a couple of times since. A few years ago I bought a cheap hardback copy (no DW) from a charity shop, so I could at least have an early hardback of it - only to discover, when I got it home, that it was the American first edition! :-D

I've also read 'Rebecca's Tale' by Sally Beauman - which I thoroughly enjoyed, although I don't seem to have it any more. I also had a first edition (ex library book) of 'Mrs DeWinter' but I never read it. I think I was probably put off by some of the reviews I had read!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Chrissie777
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Re: Daphne du Maurier

Post by Chrissie777 »

Rob Houghton wrote:I also had a first edition (ex library book) of 'Mrs DeWinter' but I never read it. I think I was probably put off by some of the reviews I had read!
That's too bad, because it's wonderful. Very much in tune with the original by DDM.
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Re: Daphne du Maurier

Post by Chrissie777 »

Rob Houghton wrote:I agree. Castle Dor is spoiled for me because it's not 'Daphne DuMaurier' in the true sense of the word!
I tried to read "Castle Dor" (I've been to it's location in the 1980's once) decades ago when I became very interested in DDM and read all her novels and a few of her short stories, but couldn't get into it.
Had the same trouble with most of her DuMaurier biographies (The Glass Blowers, Mary Anne, The DuMauriers, Gerald), but thoroughly enjoyed "Myself when young" aka "Growing Pains".
Right now I'm reading "The King's General" which is a lovely read.
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