Rebecca: Biography of a novel

By Avril Horner

The second book in MUP's 'Biography of a novel' series shines a light on a modern gothic classic.

When Rebecca hit the shelves in August 1938 it was an instant sensation, turning Daphne du Maurier into a household name. A genre-bending gothic romance, the novel tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy older man, only to discover that his beautiful family estate harbours a shocking secret.

Rebecca: Biography of a novel offers a lively account of this enduring classic, providing du Maurier lovers with a wealth of information about the novel's writing, publication and reception. It traces the book's inspiration in du Maurier's unusual family background and her discovery of the neglected Cornish country house that would eventually become her home. It also explores the novel's remarkable afterlives, including adaptations for stage and screen and two accusations of plagiarism.

Rebecca's opening line is one of the most famous in English literature: 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.' Rebecca: Biography of a novel offers readers the chance to return once more to this extraordinary novel, whose mesmerising power remains undimmed almost a century after its publication.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1526192926
• ISBN13: 9781526192929
• Release Date: July 2027
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 2.0" x 5.1"