Rebecca

Daphne du Maurier

Maxim de Winter meets his second wife while in Monte Carlo. He has escaped England after his wife's death. The new Mrs. de Winter, the first person narrator of this tale, recounts the early months of their marriage and herself living with the spectre of his first wife, Rebecca.

The new bride is excited to be accompanying her husband to his ancesteral family home on the coast, Manderley. But Rebecca's presence is all over the mansion. The furniture she chose is still arranged in her wishes. The gardens still have the shape she designed. Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, was Rebecca's confidante.

Mrs. Danvers - another problem. The woman resents the new young mistress. The second Mrs. de Winter is young and unsure of herself or her husband. She loves him very much, but feels she can't compete with Rebecca's presence. Mrs. Danvers doesn't want some new upstart ruining the memories or feelings of Manderley, Maxim de Winters, or of the locals. The housekeeper takes every opportunity to bring Rebecca back into mind.

As her husband appears to be slipping further away from her, our narrator despairs of keeping her marriage. But Rebecca isn't done influencing Manderley or Maxim de Winter. Even from the grave, she reaches out her presence.

There are reasons some books become classics. Rebecca is definitely one of those books. It was written when mysteries were intellectual suspensful without the edge of the seat action present in novels now. The narrator remains unnamed except for "Mrs. de Winter". In her first person narrative, we see how difficult it is for her to compete with Maxim's first, extraordinary wife. After a short time with him in Manderley, she is sure he realizes the mistake he has made. There are secrets all around, but she cannot penetrate them to discover the truth.

If you've never read Rebecca, it's a mystery novel well worth the reading, leading you through unexpected twists. You can feel Mrs. Danvers' malevolence. Rebecca's presence dominates the novel. And it's good story telling.