Customer Reviews
Why did I put off reading it for so long? - By: E. Potten, 26 Sep 2008 
What an amazing book! I always put off reading it because it seemed rather stuffy, somehow - how wrong I was! It is a taut & brilliantly written novel, winding through different genres, exquisite symbolism & intricate complexities, into a fantastic & compelling story.
When a shy, poor young woman meets a rich widowerin Monte Carlo, she fallsin love with him & is astounded when he asks her to be his wife - the new Mrs de Winter. However, she soon realises that the previous Mrs de Winter's presence still hangs heavily over his life & home - the grand Manderley, set on du Maurier's beloved Cornish coast - & that the terrible secrets of their marriage will haunt them both until Rebecca takes her revenge from beyond the grave...
Full of vivid characters, naive hope, thrilling mystery, chilling despair, & descriptions that ring with pure poetry, there is no wonder that this book remains well loved through the generations.
Wonderfully sinister... - By: LittleReader, 01 Jul 2008 I first read this book as a teenager but remembered how, even then, I had appreciated the writing. And it was just as magical the second time around.
'Rebecca' is the tale of Maxim de Winter, his first wife Rebecca, his nameless second wife (and this is really intriguing - why DDM chose not to name her heroine is poignantin the extreme..) & Manderley - the housein which the tale is set. Narrated by the second wife & beginning at the end (a style I love anyway), we are led by the hand into the controlling World of Maxim & with a 'wing' to house each wife & the formidable housekeeper Mrs Danvers, you can see that such a fruitful cast of characters will make for great reading.
You are initially of the belief that the first wife drownedin an accident but soon, the plot thickens & darkens & the myriad twists & turns slowly draw you to a different conclusion. And the tale then really gets going. All is not quite what it seems. Creepy.
Far fetched, romantic, dreamy & dramatic - Rebecca is a must for readers of all ages...
Magical - By: H. Lacroix, 08 Jun 2008 I first read Rebecca when I was 12 & over the years, I believe I must have read it eight more times. Nothing can compare to the first reading of course, the spellbinding writing of Du Maurier is such that you enter the world she creates. you are not a witness you are absorbed into the story. This book reads like a dream, at times you enter a sort of trance ( a pleasurable one, have no fear)probably created by the rhythmic use of language & imagery.
If there are people around who haven't read it yet, you simply must.
You must share the story of that young woman who feels so inadequate, swept off her feet by this older, fascinating man, unable to fill the shoes of Lady of the manor, haunted by all she hears about the first wife, beautiful, accomplished & so much more than she herself will ever be. You must read about the fascinating Mrs Danvers, probably one of the finest characters ever drawn, the housekeeper, totally devoted to the memory of that first wife & who therefore resents the second or rather hates her so much she will try her best to crush her.
A timeless classic, a triumph... words can't do it justice.
Superb - By: AnnieA, 03 Jun 2008 I first read this spellbinding book about 25 years ago. I continue to read it every few years & still find it exciting, sad, scaryin places & as dramatic as the first time. Unlike many others I am not a massive fan of the first chapter but, believe me, you are soon reeledin by the brilliance of the narrative. The story is ageless & I can't recommend it enough. I often get annoyed & find Mrs De Winter a bit spineless & Max de Winter a bit bossy & autocratic but Daphne du Maurier is such a good story teller that you gloss over her characters flaws & still find yourself caring about what happens to them. I often think it would be fascinating if we could have heard Rebecca's version of events written by du Maurier. Please give this book a go, it stays with you long after you have finished it.
Flawless! - By: Philip Thompson, 26 May 2008 There are so many great books out there but this is one of the best! Thrilling is the best word to describe this book buts not really enough! Every character is great & the story is among the best every written, if you've seen the film then you know how good it is but add an extra 20% of brilliance for the book! I want to meet Rebeccain the same way I want to meet Alexis Colby!
