Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rating: 5/5

“I wondered why it was that places are so much lovelier when one is alone.”

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, a modern gothic psychological thriller, is set in the mansion of Manderley. The novel is written in first person by an unnamed woman, only addressed as the second Mrs. De Winter.

The narrator gradually grows to be obsessed with Rebecca, the first wife of Maxim De Winter. She begins to see her ghost haunting every corner of Manderley. From the very beginning, the second Mrs. de Winter starts to compete with Rebecca, who apparently is the perfect woman.

The novel deals with themes like feminism, memory, power, control and coming of age. The theme of feminism is often debated amongst the audience since the author never confirmed it, but it is undeniable that it is an incredibly feminist novel, if studied in depth enough.

Rebecca is among those types of novels that need more than merely an understanding of the language to comprehend. More than anything, this novel needs the reader’s interpretation to be complete. 

I have read a lot of books in my life and it’s quite easy to list the parts you dislike, but that’s the thing about Rebecca. It is a literary perfection. If you’ve not read it yet, you’re missing out on one of the finest stories ever told.