The official Daphne du Maurier website, approved by her Estate
Daphne Du Maurier Forum
Archive 2010
How I envy you beginning some du Maurier research. It would be good to read a summary of your conclusions on this Forum page, you might then spark some debate. I'd certainly recommend Prof. Richard Kelly's 1987 bio. of Daphne, Margaret Forster's 1994 bio. and The Daphne Du Maurier Companion of 2007. The latter contains an interview with Daphne's former editor Sheila Hodges which you'd find helpful.Ann Willmore of Bookends of Fowey may also prove invaluable and certainly you should read her book reviews on this website.Collin
- Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 15:44:39 (GMT) Hi, I'm a student in Falmouth currently studying Daphne du Maurier's work and how it changed over the years. Whether the changing landscape and increase of tourism played a major role in how her work developed and whether this was a positive influence or not. I am looking at the novels "The Loving Spirit", "The House on the Strand" and "Rule Britannia". It would be really useful to hear some people's thoughts and opinions on this. Thanks Gina
Gina
- Friday, November 26, 2010 at 13:07:19 (GMT) Collin, thank you for reply to my message. That's exactly what I was looking for. Cheers!
proposalbee
- Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 10:43:30 (GMT) I believe the place name that the previous contributor is looking for is Kerrith. That name and the harbourmaster Captain Searle appear in Ch.19 of Rebecca.
Collin
- Monday, November 22, 2010 at 12:10:23 (GMT) My wife and I spent a week in Fowey in early October and loved our time in Cornwall. Naturally, after falling in love with du Maurier country, we both had to listen to Rebecca as our next audiobook choice. Neither of us had read the novel previously. In Rebecca, du Maurier refers to a town that we assume is a fictional name for Fowey, a town with a harbour and harbourmaster. Listening to the audiobook, it sounds like the reader is saying "Careth" or "Careff" or something like that. How is the name of this town spelled in the book? Thanks from Atlanta, GA USA.
Proposalbee
- Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 22:24:29 (GMT) In 2008 my daughter Kim and I enjoyed the privilege of addressing the annual du Maurier Festival on the subject of Daphne's musical tastes and how these influenced her prose. We were thrilled that Exeter University accepted our booklet 'The Mystery of Daphne's Music unravelled' for their du Maurier archives. With considerable help from Kits Browning who not only supplied information about his mother's poetry but also some memorable photographs, I have just completed my subsequent research into Daphne's poetry. It is in two parts:'Daphne du Maurier: The Appeal of Poet and Poetry' The first discusses 'The Last Romantic' a film Daphne made with her son in 1965 celebrating the centenary of the Irish poet W B Yeats whose work they both loved. It also suggests how poetry influences her style of prose. Part 2 examines Daphne's own poetry and her favourite verse by other writers e.g. Yeats,Bronte,Larkin,Rimbaud,Templeton-Turner, Wolfe, Tennyson, Wordsworth etc. Daphne's poetry is analysed and demonstrates her enduring passion for this literary genre.Exeter University has again accepted my booklets on poetry for their archives.
Collin
- Monday, November 08, 2010 at 11:08:31 (GMT) Daphne's first TV interview broadcast by BBC 2 in August 1971 is now available on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/writers It lasts 49 minutes.
Collin
- Monday, November 08, 2010 at 10:48:00 (GMT) Devotees of Daphne du Maurier may be interested to know that my new book on her husband, Boy Browning, has just been published. This is the first ever biography and has had considerable support from their three children. Titled 'General "Boy"', it majors on his career, particularly on his time with the Airborne Forces and his involvement with Operation Market Garden, including the tragic events at Arnhem. It also covers his post-war service with the Duke of Edinburgh, who has contributed a Foreword to the book. The marriage to Daphne and their perhaps unusual relationship runs through the book, from the time that they met, as a counterpoint to Boy's career . The book is published by Pen & Sword.
Richard Mead
- Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10:09:21 (GMT) In a recent announcement, the Cornwall Council have arranged to pass over responsibility for the Festival to the Fowey Town Council. The Council's financial support will continue, on a reducing basis, for the next few years, allowing some time for the Fowey Town Council to construct plans for the future of the Festival. The Fowey Council have invited the Fowey Chamber of Commerce to work with them - ensuring that all of Fowey will be pulling together for the future of the Du Maurier Festival! Provisional dates for 2011 are Thursday, 12th May to Saturday, 21st May. Keep an eye on this website, we'll confirm the dates as soon as we can.
David
- Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 21:52:44 (GMT) Both Sam and Ann have contributed reviews of the 2010 Du Maurier Festival. These may now be viewed by clicking the 'Festival News' link in the left hand column of this page.
- JB Late Saturday night: in the morning I've a long drive to Fowey, but it will be worth the hassle, for the delight of meeting my 'Festival' friends again. I hope all who attend have a good time, and find something or someone to make the visit worth while. I hope especially that my friend Barbara ("Lady B") will be well enough to attend, as she recovers from bronchial pneumonia. Please say a prayer for her everyone. Best Wishes
Sam
- Saturday, May 08, 2010 at 23:02:08 (GMT) Hello All Long time no see. Just to say that I have finished my PhD on Daphne du Maurier. It is now available in book form from Amazon. Melanie Heeley Resurrection, Renaissance, Rebirth: Religion, Psychology and Policitics in the Life and Works of Daphne du Maurier. Published by VDM Verlag http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=melanie+heeley
Melanie
- Friday, March 26, 2010 at 09:59:14 (GMT) Hi Fiona, It's always gratifying to read that one of Daphne's novels has been enjoyed by such a wide age range of readers in your group. Thanks for sharing that. I wonder if you or any of your group have some favourite lines from Rebecca that you'd like to place on Your Favourite Lines webpage as an enduring record? Best wishes. Collin
Collin Langley
- Friday, March 05, 2010 at 07:40:31 (GMT) Thought members might be interested to know that out of the 10 books read by my readers group in 2009 'Rebecca' scored the most points. There are eight of us in the group age range from 21 to 54 and we all loved it.
Fiona
- Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 14:41:46 (GMT) In Margaret Forster's Daphne du Maurier, there is a photo of three members of the Rashleigh family-Oenone,Morwenna and Jennifer. Does anyone know which Mrs Rashleigh lived in Luwhyre [ spelling? ] Lodge near Rashleigh Lane west of Readymoney Cove in 1943? I have an invitation to my late mother to a The Dansant from Mrs Rashleigh and her Committee on 5 December 1943 to meet officers of the US Navy but there is no Christian name included for Mrs Rashleigh. I wonder if she is one of the three in the photo?
Richard Brown <charles.brown180@ntlworld.com>
- Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 18:51:07 (GMT) Dr Helen Doe, maritime historian, who has given many popular talks at the du Maurier Festival, has emailed to say she will be on Radio 4 Woman's Hour on Wednesday 20th January. The programme begins at 10.00 am - ditto Collin's info below for those overseas.
Linda
- Monday, January 18, 2010 at 12:37:12 (GMT) BBC Radio 4 (FM 92.4-94.6 MHz)is broadcasting, 9.30am London time, a programme next Tuesday, Jan.12 called Famous Footsteps about children of famous parents. I gather Tessa Montgomery, Daphne's eldest, features. I hope those interested who live outside the UK can listen via internet. Happy New Year to all Daphne fans especially those who have posted their favourite lines.
Collin Langley
- Saturday, January 09, 2010 at 12:02:19 (GMT) Hello! This is my first message here. First of all, Happy New Year to all of you. I am happy to be here among those who love Daphne's books. My favorite is the short story collection "The Breaking Point". One of my dreams is to visit Cornwall and see the famous places by myself.
Christina <bedina@georgiev-partners.ru>
- Thursday, January 07, 2010 at 22:44:37 (GMT) Guy du Maurier. Soldier, playwright and... rugby player. One of 70+ members of my club who fell in WW1 and for whom my youth team are building a memorial to replace the 'lost' one.(Gerald du Maurier also used 'to perform to his own accompaniment at our informal smokers'. You can see Guy in a team photo aged 17 in 1882 on www.rugbyremembers.co.uk. I am searching for his letters from Africa and from the Wetern front if anyone can help. Many thanks
Stephen(rugbyremembers) <info@rugbyremembers.co.uk>
- Tuesday, December 08, 2009 at 18:41:20 (GMT)