Search the Community

I picked this up in a second hand sale, and I've read it while snow-bound. It's an odd book in a way - a fictionalised biography of an ancestor of du Maurier, Mary Anne Clark, who went from being a poor East Ender in London to the Duke of York's mistress at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. She caused a huge amount of scandal and became a celebrity in her day because, let down by the Duke of York, she exposed his corrupt practices in granting favours to those who wanted to join the military. Du Maurier researched the book from the transcripts of the enquiry and later events, and it is a mix of fiction and reportage. Sometimes the latter is a bit dull, especially when it covers questioning about events the reader already knows about. But Mary Anne was quite a figure. She got about, in every sense, and she had her fair share of very influential men. I had always thought - from too much reading of Austen, I suppose - that women didn't get away with that sort of behaviour in any sort of polite society, but Mary Anne did! I suppose that's what this book is: the antidote to Austen.

I'll Never Be Young Again was Daphne Du Maurier's second book. His treatment of her is very selfish and, having introduced her to fun and sex, his later neglect causes her to seek her 'fun' elsewhere. Richard (Dick) eventually has to grow up, and leave his life of self indulgence. Although this book has some wonderful descriptive passages, especially in the 'Jake' section, I disliked Dick so much that it was a struggle to keep reading it.

restored thread megustaleer 5th May 2006 06:31 PM Synopsis I really enjoyed this book. There are many similarities with the more famous 'Rebecca'. There is a mystery about Ambrose Ashley's death, and his widow is suspected of, among other things, poisoning him. As his nephew Philip struggles with love and suspicion, the reader shares his contradictory views of his cousin Rachel. As in 'Rebecca' the central question is not whodunnit, but the triple one of, did Rachel murderAmbrose, was there anything suspicious about the death of her first husband, and is she trying to poison Philip? A most enjoyable period romance/mystery. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sylvia 8th May 2006 08:40 PM I first read this book when I was in my teens (my mother had a copy). I hated it then, I think because I found the ending very dissatisfying. I was probably hoping for a nice, happy, romantic ending. I read it again last summer and found it absolutely haunting. I'm still pondering whether Rachel was "guilty" or not. ------------------------------------------------------------------- elfstar 9th May 2006 06:25 PM I was reminded of this book when posting in the Couples in literature thread, did I remind you too, Meg? I have never resolved the answer in my own mind, was she innocent or not? I think in many ways this is a darker book than Rebecca and leaves even more to the imagination. Strange how in both of them one of the characters is dead but has left an abiding impression...Ambrose and Rebecca. ------------------------------------------------------------ megustaleer 17th May 2006 01:31 PM Yes. I 'found' it on a neglected bookshelf just a few days after seeing it mentioned on the 'Couples' thread, so thanks for the reminder! -------------------------------------------------------------

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier - 1938 Rescued Thread - part one of page 1 of 3: #1 24th September 2006, 04:41 PM Hilary Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 123 Rebecca Can't find a thread about this book on here. I've just begun Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. I've had it on my shelf for years and, though I loved Jamaica Inn, I've always put off the idea of reading another of hers. Since I couldn't get going with The Frenchman's Creek anyway. But I have to say, I'm loving this so far...has anyone else read it? (Silly question , someone will have!) __________________ Currently reading - Father Brown Stories, GK Chesterton Just finished - Rebecca ~ Daphne Du Maurier, Frenchman's Creek by the same. My website: http://www.christianmums.com ------------------------------------------------ #2 24th September 2006, 04:52 PMr Mungus Subscriber Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wilts Posts: 1,380 I first read Rebecca after seeing the classic Olivier film ages ago. My reliably useless memory meant that I had forgotten the ending by the time I started the book so found it very enjoyable. It's a book I return to again and again because I find it so athmospheric and tense. I read Jamaica Inn earlier this year and enjoyed it well enough but not as much as Rebecca. I think it seemed more dated. I've toyed with the idea of reading Fisherman's Creek - what was it that you didn't like about it Hilary? I've read somewhere about Du Maurier's 'Cornish Novels', what are the others? ------------------------------------------------ #3 24th September 2006, 06:51 PM Claire Founder Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 1,069 This is one I've been meaning to read for ages. Since there's a thread just started, I might see if I can track it down at the library and give it a go. I've not read any Du Maurier at all, so I have very few expectations, either way. ------------------------------------------------ #4 24th September 2006, 07:03 PM Hilary Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 123 Frenchman's Creek...well, it's one of those books where I've read the first chapter or two and then got distracted by something else and given up...several times. It just doesn't grab me in the first 50 pages or so and I've never made it any further. I'm sure I will read it at some point, especially if Rebecca continues to draw me in. (but I can't get away from thinking the title might sound a bit rude...maybe that's just me!) Rebecca reminds me a little bit of Tenant of Wildfell Hall in that it is about a woman who is bound, to a certain extent, by the conventions of her time and situation. And like ToWH, it is so atmospheric and introspective. Mmm, marvellous. __________________ Currently reading - Father Brown Stories, GK Chesterton Just finished - Rebecca ~ Daphne Du Maurier, Frenchman's Creek by the same. My website: http://www.christianmums.com ------------------------------------------------ #5 25th September 2006, 09:50 AM Hazel Subscriber and Resident Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sunny Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 2,566 My mum gave me Rebecca to read years ago and since then I must have bought 3 copies to replace worn out ones. It's a great book, and full of mystery and suspense. __________________ Currently Reading Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte Number 1 in Heaven - Jeremy Simmonds http://www.joehay.co.uk http://www.greenmetropolis.co.uk http://www.myspace.com/joehaymusic Last edited by Hazel : 25th September 2006 at 03:33 PM. Reason: SORRY!!!! SPOILER ADDED!!! ------------------------------------------------ #6 25th September 2006, 10:55 AM Hilary Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 123 OH NO! Spoiler! I'm not there yet... __________________ Currently reading - Father Brown Stories, GK Chesterton Just finished - Rebecca ~ Daphne Du Maurier, Frenchman's Creek by the same. My website: http://www.christianmums.com ------------------------------------------------ #7 26th September 2006, 08:14 AM Hilary Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lancashire UK Posts: 123 Goodness, it's not a book for the faint hearted is it? I was awake until 5 to 1 this morning reading it until I got to the end as I couldn't bear to stop and try to go to sleep not knowing how it would end. It was so dark and thrilling and I just couldn't see which way it would go, and whether it would end in the way I thought it should...goodness, what a book! __________________ Currently reading - Father Brown Stories, GK Chesterton Just finished - Rebecca ~ Daphne Du Maurier, Frenchman's Creek by the same. My website: http://www.christianmums.com t ------------------------------------------------ #8 26th September 2006, 08:20 AM Amanda Grange Subscriber Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 112 I so envied you, reading Rebecca for the first time, especially if you didn't know all the twists and turns. It's just fantastic. As well as the plot, I love the descriptions of Manderley. If I ever emigrated and then read Rebecca, I'm sure I would be so homesick I would have to go back to England straight away. The rhododendrons, the tea by the fire, the cove etc all reek of England. __________________ Mr Knightley's Diary Darcy's Diary "Absolutely fascinating" - Historical Novel Society Available from Amazon http://www.amandagrange.com

This is only the second book I've read by Du Maurier, the other being Rebecca and I much preferred this one. In fact this is one of my favourite reads of this year. I loved the premise, drugs as a way of time-travelling and although I think there were a few holes and a lot of unexplained parts what I loved was the quality of the writing. She managed to create such a wonderful atmosphere, her historical detail seemed accurate and the slowness of the plot built suspense as well as a sense of frustration and kept me hooked. I liked the characters and felt as if I knew them and the ending was so sudden, I felt quite bereft. I had not heard of this book before it was recommended to me on Bookcrossing, but I think this one more than Rebecca will make me try more of her books.