Manderley Forever

January 9, 2017
Novelist De Rosnay’s (The Other Story) nonfiction debut is a fascinating, in-depth portrait of Daphne du Maurier, the prolific author of the now classic thrillers Rebecca and Jamaica Inn. Her own writing heavily influenced by du Maurier’s penchant for houses and family secrets, De Rosnay undertakes a literary pilgrimage in her idol’s footsteps, from her birthplace of London to her eventual home of Cornwall, seeking the true essence of du Maurier and her work. De Rosnay, who met with her subject’s children and grandchildren, creates a multifaceted portrait of a successful writer unfairly scorned by critics for her popularity. We learn of du Maurier’s early and lasting passion for reading and writing; euphoria over publishing her first novel, The Loving Spirit, at age 23; and skepticism regarding the concept of marriage—which didn’t prevent her from entering into a 33-year-long one. De Rosnay also vividly conveys du Maurier’s independent and brazen spirit. The book ends with enlightening quotations from newspapers upon the author’s death in 1989, succinctly capturing how the world viewed her legacy. Through De Rosnay’s novel-like narrative, exhaustive research, and unbridled admiration, du Maurier’s spirit comes alive on the page, endearing her to a new generation of fans.

February 1, 2017
A familiar portrait of the prolific British writer.Fiction writer de Rosnay (A Paris Affair, 2015, etc.) claims that Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca (1938) exerted an indelible influence on her work. When a friend suggested that she write the first French biography of du Maurier, she took on the challenge, deciding to follow in the writer's footsteps in England and France to discover "the secrets of her life, her inspiration, her work." De Rosnay offers only brief accounts of her travels, beginning at the Terraces, near Regent Park, where her subject was born; continuing to the village where the teenage Daphne went to boarding school and began an affair with her young headmistress; to the coast of Cornwall, where Daphne walked; to Menabilly, the writer's beloved home and prototype of Manderley, where de Rosnay's effort to visit was rebuffed; and to Kilmarth, her last home. All of these sites, though, hardly yielded secrets. Instead, de Rosnay draws largely on du Maurier's autobiography, letters, and several fine biographies. She adds little to the already available material; this book's distinction is its presentation in present tense, since de Rosnay aims to describe her subject "as if I were filming her, camera on my shoulder, so that my readers could instantly understand who she was." This strategy, however, does not convey any more intimacy or revelation than a more conventional authorial voice. Besides chronicling her subject's successful writing career, de Rosnay reprises her family life, marriage, motherhood, and contradictory sexuality. Homophobic, du Maurier denied that she was a lesbian, but as a child, she invented a male alter ego, Eric Avon, that she felt was her true identity. When she met the virile Tommy Browning, she "shivers" at the "masculine contact" of his kiss. She married him and relegated Eric to a box. He emerged, "sparkling and resplendent," when she became infatuated with several women. An average biography. Jane Dunn's Daphne du Maurier and Her Sisters (2014) takes a more capacious and satisfying look at the life.

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Starred review from February 15, 2017

Daphne du Maurier (1907-89) was a successful author; most famous for her novel Rebecca and short story The Birds, which Alfred Hitchcock turned into the film of the same name. Despite her achievements, du Maurier never received the respect she deserved as a writer, often labeled a romance novelist, an inaccurate description she despised. Best-selling author de Rosnay (Sarah's Key) recognizes du Maurier's writing talents and had an affinity for her novels from a young age. Her English/French background has parallels to du Maurier's. The translation is an excellent read that discusses many details such as du Maurier's unusual attachment to her father, her close bonds to her sisters, her kinship with France, and her bisexuality. Despite success, du Maurier's life was not easy. Her dedication to her writing left her initially estranged from her children and put major strains on her marriage that led to adultery by both parties. This well-researched work includes correspondence, memoirs, and insight from du Maurier's children as sources. VERDICT Although the last 20 years of the author's life do not receive as much attention, this outstanding biography will attract du Maurier devotees of all ages. [See Prepub Alert, 10/17/16.]--Erica Swenson Danowitz, Delaware Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Media, PA

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