Daphne Du Maurier

"Women want love to be a novel. Men, a short story."

Daphne du Maurier (1907-89) was born in London, educated at home and in Paris, and lived much of her life in her beloved Cornwall, the setting for many of her novels. Most of her novels have been bestsellers and many have been made into films. She is considered one of the most accomplished novelists of the twentieth century.

What genres did Daphne du Maurier write in?

Du Maurier wrote primarily gothic suspense and psychological fiction, with works that also cross into historical fiction and romance; she also published short-story collections.

Which Daphne du Maurier book is best to start with?

Rebecca is the most famous and widely recommended starting point. Other accessible choices include Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel, while her short-story collections The Birds and Don't Look Now show her range in shorter form.

Are her books part of a series or meant to be read standalone?

Most of her novels and short stories are standalone works rather than part of an ongoing series.

What themes recur across her work?

Common themes include atmosphere and mood, identity and memory, jealousy and obsession, love and isolation, and the influence of landscape, especially Cornwall, on character and plot.