Rebecca T Paperback – Special Edition, November 1, 1997

Having finally delved into the pages of Daphne du Maurier's timeless classic, "Rebecca," I am pleased to award it a well-deserved five out of five stars. This novel is a true gem, and its enchanting narrative has left an indelible mark on my literary journey.Du Maurier's prose is nothing short of wonderful, a testament to her mastery of language and storytelling. The words flow effortlessly, painting vivid images and evoking a sense of timelessness that captivates the reader from the very beginning. The sheer elegance of her writing style is a joy to experience, making "Rebecca" a literary masterpiece that stands the test of time.At the heart of the novel is a gentle romance that unfolds with subtlety and grace. The delicate dance between the unnamed protagonist and the brooding Maxim de Winter is woven with nuance, creating a magnetic pull that keeps you immersed in their world. The romance is tender, yet tinged with an air of mystery, setting the stage for a narrative that goes beyond the conventional love story.The plot, indeed, is both intriguing and engaging. "Rebecca" is a tale of secrets, hidden pasts, and the haunting legacy of the enigmatic Rebecca herself. The atmospheric setting of Manderley adds a layer of suspense to the story, making every revelation and twist all the more compelling. As the protagonist navigates the complexities of her new life and unravels the mysteries surrounding her husband's first wife, the reader is taken on a mesmerizing journey of discovery and suspense.In conclusion, "Rebecca" is a literary triumph that lives up to its status as a classic. With its wonderful prose, gentle romance, and an intricately plotted narrative, it is no wonder that this novel continues to capture the hearts of readers across generations. Du Maurier's ability to craft a tale that is both timeless and evocative is nothing short of extraordinary. "Rebecca" is a must-read for those who appreciate the art of storytelling and the enduring allure of a well-crafted classic.

Rebecca is a Gothic novel written in 1938 by English author Daphne du Maurier. I had to pick up this beautiful classic to add to my personal shelf. Read it back in middle school, but I did not know or understand the true masterpiece that is this novel was. If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend you challenging yourself and reading this specific classic as it was not too hard to follow, being that it's almost 90 years old. The vivid imagery portrayed is mesmerizing, and the plot will not let you put the book down for hours (can be finished in a day if you wish).The condition of the book itself came in decent shape besides the small little dings included in the photos. I do not mind being that it's a paperback and normal wear and tear is bound to happen -- it gives it character! I'm glad to have it in my collection; Please do give it a try!

Having read this book many times, I'm hoping a new generation of readers will discover an intriguing mystery without a single vampire, serial killer or one set in some apocalyptic future. Rebecca is dark and strange and almost impossible to put down, especially with the central character dead and the storyteller being a shadow.The book begins with a dream about a house named Manderley perched on a knoll above the sea. The dream is told by the book's narrator and we learn that she once lived at Manderley but can never return.The story really begins in a hotel in Monte Carlo in the 1930's where a young girl is the paid companion to a crass, social climbing older woman, Mrs. Van Topper. The older woman will sink to almost any depth to appear well connected and prominent and plants herself in the hotel lobby daily in an attempt to ingratiate herself with someone she deems important. She spots a man she recognizes as a wealthy,prominent Englishman, Maxim de Winter and forces him to have tea with her.The young girl, whose diary is open to the reader, is horrified by Mrs. Van Topper's obvious attempts to extract personal information from de Winter by giving him the impression that they have friends in common. Although de Winter is not fooled by Mrs. Van Topper, sensing the young girl's anguish, he is kind to her.The flu confines Mrs. Van Topper to her room, allowing the girl more time and she and de Winter begin to spend most afternoons together, something she records faithfully but does not share with Mrs. Van Topper. The diary records the girl's fascination with the handsome, older man who is often brooding and distant. She falls in love with the enigmatic and dashing de Winter, but realizes how unrealistic she is. The narrator knows that de Winter recently "lost his wife," Rebecca, but knows nothing beyond what Mrs. Van Topper has told her: that de Winter's wife drowned near Manderley and he never speaks of it.Quite suddenly, Mrs. Van Topper decides to leave Monte Carlo and the girl is ordered to pack and prepare to leave. In a panic, she feels she must seek out Mr. de Winter to say goodbye and when she does, he proposes to her in an awkward way and she accepts. Mrs. Van Topper is angry and points out how unsuited the young girl is to become "mistress of Manderley."When the girl arrives at Manderley after a rapturous honeymoon, she is awestruck and intimidated by the size of the house and has no idea how to assume her role as Mrs. de Winter. Maxim is off and about the estate seeing to affairs he has neglected and, since the girl is afraid to make errors in social judgment, she leaves all decisions to others, most especially to the head housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who reinforces the girl's insecurities by continually pointing out the former Mrs. de Winter's beauty, social skills and legions of admirers and friends. The reminders of Rebecca are everywhere; her personalized notecards still in her desk, closets filled with beautiful clothes, fur coats, monogrammed towels and robes with giant R's in script, and the girl becomes convinced that de Winter married her on a whim and remains hopelessly in love with the perfect Rebecca. Rather than learning her role as lady of the house, the girl is terrified that her husband will come to his senses and realize what a mistake he has made and she will lose him. Consequently, she is slow to pay attention to nuances in behavior and speech that would provide clues to what is happening around her.Manderley is famous for its annual costume ball, a tradition de Winter loathes but agrees to suffer through as it is regarded as the height of the social season. The girl worries about how she will possibly live up to Rebecca's skills as a hostess and has no idea what costume to wear. Mrs. Danvers cleverly suggests a costume to replicate one of the many family portraits of long deceased family members lining the walls of Manderley, failing to disclose that her suggestion is for the girl to wear the exact costume worn by Rebecca at the previous ball.On the night of the ball, as a drum signals, she descends the grand staircase to be met with silence, expressions of disbelief and gasps of horror. Maxim yells at her and orders her to go and change. She is humiliated and defeated and refuses to go back downstairs. Then she hears voices outside discussing her. "Guess they had a row and she is refusing to come out." "No one has seen her. Rebecca would have been here there and everywhere." Shaken, she suddenly realizes that as Mrs. de Winter, she has certain obligations and one is to overcome her fear and face the music. She makes it through the ball in misery.The diary is the only information provided, so one never learns the girl's name, nor what she looks like, except for several remarks de Winter makes to her, saying that with a big ribbon in her hair, she would look like Alice in Wonderland Wretched though she is, the girl's despairing self-absorption is shelved by a dramatic event. A ship wrecks close to the shore and divers searching the wreck discover Rebecca's lost sailboat, an event which eventually turns the timid girl into a formidable force.To reveal more might detract from the reader's experience. Written in another time, the lengths to which certain families went to preserve reputations and hide any unpleasantness may seem absurd. The anxiety felt by the girl, afraid to fail but having no idea how to go about gaining skills she is certain she lacks may seem naive to modern women but, in the end, Rebecca is a book about how imagination clouds the ability to see, or even seek, the truth and how living a lie erodes the soul. It is a story about how fear of the truth stops us from finding joy rather than misery and how what we imagine can be far different from reality. The narrative reveals how behind facades there can be nothing more than a cardboard theater set which has been continually propped up by the flimsiest of supports and if one support post fails, the entire structure collapses.This psychological melodrama overlays a deeper message.

Una trepidante historia de suspenso que te mantendrá al borde del asiento con sus maravillosas descripciones y sus giros oscuros. 100% recomendada para los amantes del thriller.

‘’Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’’ - probably the most famous opening line of any literary book.What a brilliant book! This classic masterpiece was written in 1938 but it is still so readable. It is a psychological thriller about a young woman who becomes obsessed with her husband's first wife.Here is what I loved the most:The author made a dead character the main character. She is non-existent but everyone either loves her or is obsessed with her.The nameless narrator - I liked that she was nameless, it added to the fact that she was living in her husband’s ex-wife’s shadow. She is also a naive and timid character. I do have my own theories about what her name is. 😉⭐️ I initially struggled with the first few chapters as it is heavily narrative based, but the start is very important for setting the atmosphere of Manderley. The author uses nature, the weather, plants and flowers to give the book a gothic and atmospheric feel.There are so many psychological themes explored and there is an emphasis on how Mrs De Winter is constantly compared to the first wife and discriminated against as she is much younger than her husband.I loved reading how Mr & Mrs De Winter’s relationship unfolded from marriage to moving into Manderley. The romantic scenes are always followed by dark truths!The secondary characters are strong personalities. Mrs Danvers and Beatrice (house staff & family member) carry the story well and are very important in shaping the main characters.I really enjoyed this, you will not see the plot twist coming. I have watched one but it does not compare to the book!

die Tochter war sehr glücklich das Buch lesen zu können.

Arrived as described. Hard cover with special edition for 80th anniversary.

I love the cover of this book, especially the letters that shine in gold when light falls on them.