Rebecca Review
What does a book expert think: Get a comprehensive overview of the reception and review of Rebecca.
Article written by Neesha Thunga K
B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.
A 1938 Gothic novel that has never gone out of print, Rebecca tells the story of an unnamed young narrator who falls in love with a wealthy widower – but their marriage is haunted by the memory of his ex-wife. Written by Daphne du Maurier, this novel became the favorite novel of the people in 1938 – with the American Booksellers Association selecting the book for the National Book award. In 2003, Rebecca made it onto the list of The Big Read UK survey at number 14. The novel remains popular even today, having been the inspiration for several film adaptations, Broadway, and television shows.
Key Facts about Rebecca
- Title: Rebecca
- Published: August 1938
- Genre: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Crime Fiction
- Point-of-View: First-person narrative
- Setting: Manderley, a fictional estate in England.
- Climax: Rebecca’s wrecked ship washes up on shore with a body in it.
- Antagonist: Mrs. Danvers
Daphne du Maurier and Rebecca
Scholars have drawn parallels between Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Du Maurier seems to have been heavily influenced by the Bronte sisters in general as another one of her books, Jamaica Inn has also drawn inspiration from Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.
A large part of Rebecca, however, is inspired by du Maurier’s own life – especially her relationship with her father. The author’s childhood memories of Cornwall, Menabilly as well as her visits to the home of the Wentworth-Fitzwilliam family (Milton Hall) seems to have been the inspiration for the infamous Manderley house.
The unnamed narrator has been modeled after herself as a “study in jealousy.” Several parallels can therefore be drawn between the relationship of the narrator and her husband – and Daphne du Maurier and her own husband Tommy Browning. Admittedly, du Maurier had never been able to shake off the suspicion that her husband remained attracted to his ex-wife, dark-haired and glamorous Jan Ricardo – something that is reflected in the storyline of Rebecca as well.
Books related to Rebecca
One of the biggest allegations that Daphne du Maurier had to face during her lifetime was allegations of plagiarism. After Rebecca had been published in Brazil, popular critic Álvaro Lins suggested that du Maurier had based her book on A Successora by Brazilian writer Carolina Nabuco. The similarities between the plot structure in the two novels are hard to miss. In fact, another author, Nina Auerbach boldly made a statement that du Maurier based her best-selling novel on A Successora after having read the English translation. Daphne du Maurier, however, completely denied these allegations and chalked up similarities in the plot structure to mere coincidence.
Several others have also noted the similarities in the plot structure that Rebecca shares with Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. It is true that du Maurier gained inspiration from the Bronte sisters – which is why fans of Rebecca usually turn towards the works of Charlotte Bronte and Emily Bronte as well.
Daphne du Maurier also released the Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories in 1938 shortly after the release of the novel itself. This notebook reproduces the journal that she kept while planning out the novel. This is a masterpiece that is well-loved by writers across the world as it produces an accurate account of the artistic and conceptual development of the plot and characters of this best-seller.
Fans of Rebecca would find it interesting to note that the character of Mrs. Danvers has been alluded to in Stephen King’s Bag of Bones as well as Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next. Rebecca has also inspired various sequels over the years including Susan Hill’s Mrs. de Winter in 1993, Maureen Freely’s The Other Rebecca in 1996 as well as Sally Beauman’s Rebecca’s Tale in 2001.
Rebecca was a novel that almost became a code key to be used by the Germans in World War II – a feat that ultimately never came to fruition, but has been fictionalized in Ken Follett’s The Key to Rebecca and alluded to in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient.
Readers of Rebecca are also likely to devour other popular works by Daphne du Maurier including Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, Frenchman’s Creek, The House on The Strand, and The Scapegoat amongst several others.
The Lasting Impact of Rebecca
Rebecca has consistently been one of the most popular novels in the United Kingdom ever since its publication in 1938. It has spawned a number of film adaptations – one of them being Alfred Hitchcock’s unforgettable adaptation in 1940, a film that ultimately won an Academy Award.
Rebecca has also been the inspiration for several television adaptations including an NBC TV and BBC adaptation. The impact of this novel has seeped into other languages as well, with an Urdu television series based on this novel being broadcast in the year 2009 under the name Noor Pur Ki Rani.
Besides bringing everlasting fame to Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca has managed to stay in people’s hearts across all these years as a thrilling tale of romance with a hint of macabre. A Netflix adaptation directed by Ben Wheatley came out very recently in 2020 – proving the timelessness of this classic.
Rebecca was adapted for the stage by Daphne du Maurier herself in 1939 – a venture that proved extremely successful with more than 350 performances in London. Over the years, the novel has been adapted for Broadway, radio, and Opera as well.
Rebecca has made a lasting mark on pop culture too. Steve Hackett, Meg Frampton, Steve Walsh, and Taylor Swift have all drawn inspiration from Rebecca for their music. The novel has also given birth to a gothic soap opera called Dark Shadows. The influence of Rebecca has seeped into fashion as well, with du Maurier Watches (founded by Daphne du Maurier’s grandson) releasing limited edition watches a few years ago called ‘The Maxim’ and ‘The Rebecca’.
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About Neesha Thunga K
B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.