Book Report On Rebecca

NOVEL STUDY

Section A - Background Information

1) In 1907, a popular writer named Daphne Du Maurier was born. She wrote her first novel, Loving Spirit, in 1931. Other novels that Du Maurier wrote were Rule Britannia, My Cousin Rachel, The King’s General. The

Scapegoat, Jamaican Inn and many more. Margaret Forester held high praises for Du Maurier. Forester had said, "No other popular writer

{Du Maurier} has so triumphantly defied classification… She satisfied all t questionable criteria of popular fiction, and yet satisfied too, the exact requirements of "real literature", something very few novelist do." Daphne Du Maurier died in 1985, at the age of 82. Her novel Rebecca is now considered to be a modern classic.

2) I chose this novel because I had heard wonderful things about it. Someone recommended this novel to me and when I read the back, I could not help myself. The summary on the back made the novel seem so intriguing. The cover design caused a mysterious affect. On the cover is a single house. The sky is very dark and gloomy, but then lightens up near the back of the house. The lonesome houses and dark sky made me wonder about all the mysteries and secrets that waited to be unlocked. The title Rebecca is also quite mysterious because the title is a single word. In no way does it make reference to what may happen. The novel makes me think that I should "expect the unexpected"

Section B - Setting and Plot

1) The setting of Rebecca takes place in Maxims ancient family home. This enormous mansion was called Manderely. Manderely was very well known throughout most of Europe, which was where the novel takes place. The author doesn’t specify where in Europe Rebecca takes place. Du Maurier stated that Manderely was driving distance from London, England. Manderely was far away from town. The mansion had beautiful gardens all around it. There were pathways through the forest that lead to Manderely’s private beach. There were iron gates that opened up to the long twisted driveway. The beginning of the driveway was surrounded by tress and shrubs. Then the shrubs disappeared to reveal blood red rhododendrons, that East wing and a West wing. The east wing had a morning room, which was where the characters sat after breakfast, an ante room, a library and a large double bedroom. The double bedroom overlooked Manderely’s beautif...

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...ted the real name of Mrs. de Winter. Also, the author rambled sometimes. I felt the novel dragged on and it was longer that it needed to be. Some of the author’s descriptions were too long and pointless. I would recommend this novel to anyone because it is very well written.

Out of ten, I’d give Rebecca nine.

Section H - Compare with Movie

There was a movie version of Rebecca. I found the movie to be quite similar but there were some parts that were different. For example, the part of the dress ball was very different. In the novel, Mrs. de Winter had a dress made not realizing it was the same one Rebecca wore. When Maxim sent her upstairs to change. Maxim’s sister comforted her. However, in the movie, Mrs. de Winter went upstairs and had an argument with Mrs. Danvers, the maid who had set her up. Also, in the novel there was a fight between Mrs. de Winter and Mrs. Danvers when they were in the west wing. This fight never occurred in the movie. The ending of the movie was, also, very different. In the novel Maxim and Mrs. de Winter go back to the Manderly to see that it was on fire in the movie Maxim and Mrs. de Winter move far away so they can start off fresh together.