About the author
Daphne du Maurier was an English novelist, biographer, and playwright closely associated with Cornwall. She wrote suspense through atmosphere, social unease, unstable identity, and narrators who understand less than the houses and histories surrounding them.
Du Maurier builds suspense out of social embarrassment before the novel's larger secrets come into view. A menu, a dress, or a misplaced ornament can feel as threatening as the fog and sea outside because the narrator has no confidence in her right to belong.
Where to start
Start with Rebecca. A shy young bride arrives at Manderley and finds her husband's first wife everywhere.
