The first serious book I've read in English. A novel, that shapes a big part of my book sight. Unique novel, written by the creator of the Hitchcock's "Birds".
"Rebecca" is a novel by British author Daphne du Maurier. It was published in 1938 and is considered to be one of her best works. It was partially inspired by Jane Eyre.[1][2] Much of the novel was written while she was staying at the Forest Park Hotel in Platres, Cyprus.
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" is the book's opening line, and from here its unnamed narrator recollects her past, recalling the story of her transition into womanhood. While working as the companion to a high class dame vacationing on the French Riviera, she becomes involved with a wealthy Englishman, Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter. She agrees to marry him, and follows him to his mansion, the beautiful Cornish estate, Manderley.
Only after their return to Manderley does the new bride realize how difficult it will be to lay to rest the memory of her husband's first wife, Rebecca. Rebecca drowned off the coast next to the mansion, but her aura seems to pervade the estate and all its inhabitants, especially its domineering housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, one of literature's most infamous female villains.
Mrs. Danvers, who was profoundly devoted to Rebecca, does her best to undermine the second Mrs. de Winter, suggesting to her that she will never attain the urbanity and charm that Rebecca possessed. Lacking self-confidence and overwhelmed by her new life, the protagonist commits one faux pas after another, until she is convinced that Maxim regrets his impetuous decision to marry her and is still deeply in love with the seemingly perfect Rebecca. The climax occurs at Manderley's annual costume ball. Mrs. Danvers deceives the protagonist into wearing a costume replica of one of the former inhabitants of the estate. The same costume had been worn by Rebecca at the previous ball, shortly before her death. The costume is of a De Winter ancestor by the name of Caroline De Winter. The name of the second Mrs. De Winter is never given. In fact the only reference we have to her name is that it is an "unusual" name
The night after the ball, the storm that had been pervading the estate leads to a shipwreck that unveils the remains of Rebecca's boat. This unexpected event leads Maxim to confess the truth to the second Mrs. De winter about how the willful and adulterous Rebecca taunted him with a series of love affairs. She claimed to be pregnant by another man and threatened to burden Maxim with the responsibility of raising the child. Maxim, truly hating her, shot her and disposed of her body on her boat, which he sank at sea. The narrator, rather than being frightened by the revelation that her husband is capable of murder, is instead relieved to hear that Maxim did not love Rebecca.
The boat is raised and it is discovered that holes had been deliberately made which would have caused it to sink. There is an inquest and a verdict of suicide is brought. However Rebecca's cousin Jack appears on the scene claiming to have proof that Rebecca could not have intended suicide. Jack attempts to blackmail Maxim because he believes that Maxim killed Rebecca and then sank the boat.
However it is revealed that she had an appointment shortly before her death, presumably with a doctor to confirm her pregnancy. When the doctor is found he reveals instead that Rebecca had been suffering from cancer, and would have died within a few months. Moreover she could never have become pregnant. The implication is that, knowing she was going to die, Rebecca lied to Maxim that she had been impregnated by another man, because she wanted Maxim to kill her (thus her death could indeed be considered a form of suicide).
Upon returning to Manderley after the truth was discovered about Rebecca's cancer, Maxim and his bride discover the house in flames, probably set on fire by the deranged Mrs. Danvers.
It is suggested at the beginning of the novel by the heroine that the two now live in some foreign exile. The events recounted in the book are in essence a flashback of the narrator's life at Manderley.
Thanks to Wikipedia.org
