First read: 2011, Rating: 5/5 stars
Second read: 2014, Rating: 5/5 stars
Third Read: October 2020, Rating: 5/5 stars
Fourth Read: October 2021, Rating: 5/5 stars

Our unnamed protagonist embarks on her journey across Europe as a lady's companion and concludes it as the lady of the manor. Manderley swiftly captures her heart, along with its other inhabitant, her new husband, Maxim de Winter. Both receive her complete adoration, yet she never truly feels that either belongs to her. This is especially true when all are still haunted by Maxim's first wife, Rebecca.

This iconic Gothic novel has held a special place in my heart ever since I first studied it at university, a decade ago. My initial love for it stemmed from a sense of kinship with this naïve protagonist, whose numerous insecure thoughts and feelings I felt I shared. Later on, with the benefit of age and hindsight, I developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for her position. However, my changing feelings towards our heroine did not matter because du Maurier skillfully invited the reader to share in her many slights and embarrassments, and I felt each instance acutely with every reading. This was just one of the many remarkable aspects of this incredibly well-structured novel.

Pain and tragedy are interwoven throughout these pages, but beauty also abounds within this novel. And yet, every glorious scene is soon marred by sinister events or superstitious musings. Nothing can escape the firm grip of the Gothic atmosphere that pervades it. Not even the infamous Manderley itself. This sprawling property is renowned for its noble structure, yet its chilly interiors are home to restless spirits. Maxim appears to be the perfect embodiment of a society gentleman, yet he remains just as cold and distant when one gets close to him. This pairing forms the center of the plot, but it is the female who shares her name with the title of this book that garners the most attention. Rebecca may not physically grace these pages, but her spirit haunts every character and overshadows every event that takes place. This may not be a strictly supernatural novel, but I have yet to read one that is as steeped in sinister occurrences and as capable of evoking its chilling atmosphere as this one.

An unnamed woman recalls her past, casting her mind back to when she first experienced love as a young woman, almost still a girl.

She was a shy individual, working as a companion to an older woman in Monte Carlo. It was there that she encountered and fell for the well-known, upper-class Maxim de Winter, a recent widow and the owner/occupier of the legendary English home, Manderley.

The imposing Manderley itself plays a crucial role in this magnificent gothic mystery romance. There is the combative head housekeeper, Miss Danvers, to overcome, and even more significantly, the legacy of Maxim's beloved first wife, Rebecca.

Chapter by chapter, the narrator documents her tale filled with secrets, lies, love and hate, manipulation and disinformation, of masks and facades.

From the opening line - "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again", it was evident that something special was unfolding. This is one of those books where, after just a few pages, it becomes clear that it is a Five Star read.

As the story progresses, one finds oneself in vain searching for a Six Star rating, captivated by how the almost irreverent gothic romantic spiel of the narrator in her youth is counterbalanced by the aloof, mature, and yet selective and secretive De Winter. It is all so compelling!

The supporting cast is a delight, from the dark and distraught Danvers to the sister who speaks her mind!

The key driver for most readers is the story, and once again, du Maurier delivers! It earns a 10 out of 12. A Five Star Read!

My two favorite writers of all time are Margaret Atwood and Donna Tartt, and it seems this list has just gained one more author.

Written in 1938, this story still holds up remarkably well. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but feel a little like I was watching a movie that Hitchcock might have made. Intrigued, I looked it up and was amazed to discover that it was his first US film. This immediately made me add it to my to-watch list!

Mrs. Danvers was truly far scarier than Favell could ever hope to be. Her unwavering devotion to Rebecca was simply way too intense, bordering on the obsessive. It sent shivers down my spine.

I absolutely loved the narrator's transformation. She went from a state of innocence and immaturity to a woman who knew exactly how to step into her adult shoes. However, I have to admit that I was a little creeped out when she said she wanted her husband to be her father and brother too. I'm inclined to assume that this statement might have held a different meaning back then. I think I can begin to understand what du Maurier might have been trying to convey with this, and I suppose it also serves to emphasize the narrator's inexperience with the world. After all, she lost both her parents in her teens, which no doubt had a profound impact on her.

Given that this story has been made into a film a couple of times, it could potentially be a really fun book to teach in a film class. It would offer students a great opportunity to analyze the differences and similarities between the written word and its cinematic adaptations.

The main character of this book is a woman who makes herself seem of such little importance that we don't even know her first name. She is the embodiment of the young, low self-esteem girl who thinks so poorly of herself that never, throughout her entire life, would she consider attracting the attention of a man like Mr. De Winter. So, when the rich and important man falls for her and suddenly asks her to marry him, she can't believe her ears. How could the mature and handsome Mr. De Winter be interested in this young, unimportant thing with mousy hair, who is only mediocre at what she does, training to be the companion of an old woman?

Of course, when she marries him and moves into his mansion, becoming Mrs. De Winter, she realizes what she has signed up for: a life lived in the shadow of another woman, the late Rebecca De Winter, who is still, even after her death, the real mistress of the house and, it seems, of Mr. De Winter's heart.

This book belongs to another era, as can be clearly seen from the verbose style and the dated atmosphere, as well as the way the characters speak and think, especially the protagonist. But this doesn't stop it from being enjoyable. In fact, nothing in this book stops it from being enjoyable: the unlikable characters, the slowness and, it must be said, predictability of the plot, the somewhat excessive length, and so on. All these details didn't prevent me from finishing this book in one day. And even though, in the end, I had said "I knew it" more than once, I couldn't help but love this book and the young and sweet Mrs. De Winter.

Really, she is the type of woman who would fall for an older man due to some underlying "daddy issues", belittle herself like a child in her man's eyes, and do anything to please him, all while constantly thinking about "the ex", obsessively comparing herself to her in every little thing, and wondering if he has been thinking about her.

And in the end, I think the reason why I liked this book so much is that, I believe, all of us have been in Mrs. De Winter's shoes at some point in our lives, perhaps when we were younger, willing to do anything to please a man (or a woman) who wouldn't even love us back, or would love us just a little less than we love them.

Updated review  

This is a truly classic book that has been sitting on my "to read" list for an incredibly long time. Generally speaking, I don't typically gravitate towards novels in the romance genre. However, this particular book offers so much more than just romance. In fact, it is also a captivating murder mystery.

I'm aware that Alfred Hitchcock adapted this story into a movie many years ago, but I haven't had the opportunity to watch it. As a result, I was completely unaware of the story's plot and how it would unfold.

Daphne du Maurier does an outstanding job with this mystery. I was especially impressed by how the protagonist and narrator, the second Mrs. DeWinter, is revealed. At first, she is portrayed as a timid and self-effacing woman. But as time passes, she gradually finds her confidence and asserts herself as the second Mrs. DeWinter and the mistress of Manderley, her husband Maxim deWinter's beautiful country estate. du Maurier's decision not to give the second Mrs. DeWinter a first name is a fascinating aspect of the story. It really emphasizes the feelings of worthlessness that she experiences.

A major source of these feelings is the perception that the first Mrs. deWinter, Rebecca, was exceptional in many ways. She was a famous beauty, a devoted wife, and the perfect hostess - qualities that the second Mrs. deWinter feels she can never live up to. But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Rebecca was not actually as perfect as she was perceived to be.

I gave this book a well-deserved 5 stars. I had to listen to an audio book version because the hardback I ordered from Amazon had such tiny writing that I couldn't read it. Fortunately, the narrator was absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to discover another book of equal quality.

Why on earth haven't I read this book before now? It's truly amazing. I loved every single aspect of it!

I am extremely glad that I have finally read this remarkable piece of literature!

And it is truly a blessing that I have managed to reach this point in my life without any spoilers, allowing me to approach it with a completely open mind.

I am well aware that there is very little that I can contribute to the countless reviews that already exist. However, I fully comprehend why this novel is considered a classic and why it remains so popular and relevant even in the present day.

The unnamed protagonist in this story is young, easily influenced, and in certain situations, rather vulnerable. She meets Maxim De Winter while working as a ladies' companion in Monte Carlo. Their rapid marriage comes as a shock to almost everyone, considering that Maxim's late wife, Rebecca, has been gone for barely a year, and everyone knows how deeply he adored her.

When the newlyweds return to Maxim's family home, Manderly, life becomes even more challenging for our young protagonist. The malicious Mrs Danvers, who manages the household, treats her horribly, making her feel inadequate and foolish at every opportunity. She is truly a difficult character.

I will not elaborate further because I firmly believe that it is best to experience the story without any prior knowledge. But I adored the way the plot unfolds, and I loved all the diverse themes that are explored, such as the loss of innocence, control within marriage, the divide between the nobility and other classes, and much more.

There is so much to gain from reading this novel. Although I found it a bit slow at the beginning, trust me, it is well worth persevering. The rewards are truly significant!

Why do dogs make you want to cry? Their companionship has something so silent and so hopeless. Jasper knew that something bad was coming, like all dogs...

What a delicate and unachievable writing? What stormy developments? Fully realized characters portrayed with such authenticity that they surely correspond to real people, familiar, beloved or hated. The whole story unfolds with great charm, smoothly and spontaneously.

A atmosphere of mystery, passions, mistakes, secrets, alternation of good and evil, dramatic moments and unexpected revelations keep the interest intact and the book worthy of the title of classic, excellent, beloved.

Our heroine is a poor and lonely girl in the world who works as a companion-maid to a rich American out of necessity for survival, yet deep down she is wallowing in misfortune and self-pity.

When the story begins, we are in Monte Carlo where the worldly lady spends her vacations with ostentatious and superficial megalomania, having our anonymous heroine as a faithful servile slave to serve her slavishly and owe her gratitude.

Their acquaintance with a rich charming Englishman, Maxim de Winter, brings the first fairytale reversal of fate. Our little heroine falls in love with him and after their marriage she changes from a simple companion to the mistress of Manderley.

"Last night I dreamed I went back to Manderley...", thus begins the narration of our story.

The tower of Manderley and the entire surrounding area is an earthly paradise full of pitfalls and secrets.

And somewhere here begins the transformation of the fairytale into a harsh story of fear, pain and guilt. The sensitive and delicate girl who violently enters a dreamy world of luxury and wealth cannot bear the burden of the memory of the former mistress.

Rebecca was Maxim's first wife who was strangled and dragged all the joy of life in Manderley with her to the grave.

The struggle, the despair, the humiliation begin among all the characters and the events that alternate from light to darkness, from good to evil, from jealousy to sympathy and compose a familiar and paradoxical world.

Even Maxim does nothing at first to free his little beloved from the unexpected and dark things that tyrannize her inside and outside the tower.

The demonic housekeeper of the house, Mrs. Danvers, faithful and dedicated to the memory of Rebecca, tortures and humiliates the new "lady" openly. She is a sick and toxic presence that poisons everything that does not refer to Rebecca.

She insists on controlling everything and in the end, against her will, she leads the humble and ashamed young lady to maturity and self-awareness.

In the end, after many dramatic and demonic sick events, the truth comes, not revealed, but hidden by love and dedication. Everything and everyone played a strong and decisive role in the catastrophically beautiful Manderley.

Happy reading.

Rebecca is truly a remarkable masterpiece in the realm of fiction. It belongs to the genre of gothic mystery, a type that I simply adore and cannot get enough of.

It is rather a surprise that it has taken me such a long time to finally pick it up from the shelf.

My encounter with this tale began with the Hitchcock movie on video. At that time, I was going through the director's major hits. Now, it is one that I am eager to revisit.

It was Wheatley's forthcoming Netflix adaptation that finally inspired me to read the novel.

I think I wanted to create enough distance so that I wouldn't remember the plot and could be completely swept up by the whirlwind romance.

The novel is told from the perspective of an unnamed young woman in her early 20s. She meets the widowed Maxim de Winter while on holiday in Monte Carlo.

Instantly agreeing to marry him, the girl is then whisked off to his magnificent Cornish estate, Manderley.

The cold housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, constantly remarks on how brilliant Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, was in maintaining the home. This makes our narrator feel inadequate and lonely.

Du Maurier masterfully enhanced this feeling by not naming our main protagonist. Her isolation seems even more pronounced as we know very little about the girl.

Since Rebecca died tragically in a boating accident the previous year, her presence has left a haunting mark throughout the house.

Especially because she was the perfect host and was held in high affection by many.

The tension steadily builds as the second de Winter is slowly suffocated by the constant reminders of Rebecca.

This slow-burning novel is written so brilliantly. The plot progresses smoothly, and the big moments are revealed at precisely the right times, satisfying the reader's craving for more from this evocative and atmospheric classic.

I saw the Hitchcock movie many years ago, but there is simply nothing that can compare to listening to the actual book! I wasn't familiar with Anna Massey before, but she is truly wonderful as the narrator. She has a very proper tone, much like Judi Dench. I found myself sitting up straighter while sipping my tea and listening intently. I have to admit that I liked her portrayal of the main character much more than Joan Fontaine's in the film version!

This book was first published in 1938 and it is truly groundbreaking. It is one of the first modern domestic noir/thrillers, the kind that we still enjoy today in 2018. Granted, it has a very Victorian and gothic feel, much like "Wuthering Heights". I was quite amused by the naivete of our unnamed heroine, the second Mrs. de Winter. In my daily reading life, I usually can't stand wimpy and uninformed female main characters. However, in the context of 1938, it works! In fact, I found her charming and believable as she progresses towards self-actualization.

This book has everything. It has dark, moody, and absolutely gorgeous writing that you'll just die for. But hold on! The story moves at a rapid pace and the delicate plot turns will simply take your breath away. I love it so much that I can't even do it justice in this review. If you love psychologically suspenseful stories, do your intellect a favor and check out REBECCA. You will not regret taking a look back at the roots of your favorite genre.

5 STARS

Rebecca is a truly remarkable novel that has captivated readers for decades. First published in April 1938, it has never been out of print and remains as engaging and relevant today as it was when it was first released. The story begins with the padlocked gate opening, leading the reader along the long drive to Manderley, a silent and dark house filled with secrets. A young woman, working as a rich woman's companion, meets a mature and rich Englishman in Monte Carlo. After a quick courtship, she agrees to marry him and he takes her to his home, Manderley. However, the presence of his dead wife, Rebecca, still haunts the house, kept alive by the evil and manipulative housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. The novel is filled with brilliant writing, a story of romance, suspense, guilt, secrets, and the loss of innocence. The characters are vividly drawn, especially Mrs Danvers, who is an unforgettable villainess. The quotes in the book are also incredibly powerful, such as "Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind." and "Boredom is a pleasing antidote for fear." The last line of the book, "And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea," is unbelievably amazing and leaves a lasting impression. If you haven't read Rebecca yet, I highly recommend that you do so. It will stay with you forever.

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This story has everything that I absolutely adore.

There is the element of mysterious death, which adds an air of intrigue and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Romance blossoms within its pages, tugging at the heartstrings and making us believe in love.

The loved-ones are often misunderstood, creating a web of emotions and conflicts that are both relatable and engaging.

The heroine, though dowdy and remaining nameless, has a charm and a spirit that shine through.

And let's not forget the gorgeous setting, which serves as the perfect backdrop for all the drama and excitement to unfold.

It's a world that I can easily get lost in, and I can't wait to see where the story takes me next.

Overall, this is a captivating tale that has all the ingredients of a great read.

A woman, a man, another woman's shadow; a landscape, a house, a hidden history. These six elements have been the foundation of the gothic impulse, from Udolpho and Jane Eyre to The Thirteenth Tale. Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca holds a crucial position in this genre. In it, du Maurier simplifies and organizes these elements, refines the narrative, concentrates the mythic, and enriches the ambiguity of her tale.

What du Maurier understood is that the core of the romantic gothic is the struggle between two women. One is awakening to a new life, while the other is not content to remain a ghost. The man may be their conflicting goal, and the house and landscape their arena. But it is the battle between these two women, for life, power, and autonomy, that is the essence of the tale.

In Rebecca, the man is the haunted and moody Maxim de Winter. He marries a never-named young woman, a naive paid companion he met during a recent stay in Monte Carlo. The two return to Maxim's ancestral estate of Manderley. However, the new wife soon discovers that the old house and grounds, as well as the mind of her increasingly melancholy husband, are dominated by the spirit of Rebecca, his dead first wife.

The author's simplifying genius lies in the fact that in Rebecca, the spirit of the dead woman brings the house and landscape to life and obsesses the man. Consequently, every attempt of the new Mrs. de Winter, the narrator, to adjust to the house and staff (including the daunting housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers), explore the house and grounds, or understand the past events that interfere with her present happiness is part of the novel's central struggle and its secret history. The second Mrs. de Winter's descriptions may be nuanced and leisurely, occasionally painful in their innocence. But every encounter and each exploration brings us closer to the heart of the mystery of Rebecca and Manderley.

Besides the exemplary construction of the narrative, the other aspects I liked most about the book were the detailed descriptions of Manderley, the lingering power of the first two chapters (the only two set in the present), and the intriguingly ambiguous fate of the narrator, the second Mrs. de Winter, the woman with no name.

One of the guilty pleasures of a good gothic is the description of a magnificent old house. The details are so precise and rich that you can fantasize about how delightful or scary it would be to live in such a mansion. Manderley comes alive for the reader, and it is especially pleasant to have it described by someone who is experiencing it and attempting to master it for the first time.

The first chapter is justly famous for the narrator's account of a dream in which she returns to the now ruined Manderley estate. Its description of overgrown nature reclaiming the martyred grandeur of Manderley is an expertly executed mood piece, effectively inaugurating the narrative like any opening passage in literature. (I do not exclude my favorites: the first scene of Hamlet, the first chapter of Bleak House, and the description of the Sternwood mansion in the first pages of The Big Sleep).

Personally, I find the second chapter even more interesting. It describes Maxim and the narrator, who now calls the two of them "happy," as they live their life on the continent in a series of hotels. But something about the narrator's description strikes me as inexpressibly sad. The two of them sound like an affluent, aging couple, frittering their final years away on superficial pleasures and trivial pastimes. Yet the wife, the woman telling us this, is barely in her thirties. Could this really be "happiness"? This question continued to haunt me throughout my reading of the book and still affects my shifting impressions of its themes.

Weeks after finishing this novel, I ask myself what is the narrator's fate? Has she achieved a certain degree of happiness, however modest, having triumphed over the dominating Rebecca and gained the haunted Maxim for her own? Has she merely accepted the empty social forms and dull routine that Rebecca, whatever her sins might have been, was fighting so furiously against? Or is she "happy" because she, in her passive-aggressive way, dominates Maxim in his reduced state more thoroughly than Rebecca ever could? Even so, isn't such happiness inferior to the promise she once showed briefly, when she believed she could still be mistress of Manderley after Rebecca's ghost had been exorcised, before she learned their world had burned down?

I don't know the answers to these questions, and I must say I like it that way. For me, at least, the novel will always be haunted by ambiguities, and that is a good thing. It is one of the reasons I find Rebecca such a rich and rewarding work.