Du Maurier News Archive for 2021
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – December luncheon reminder
6th December 2021: A last reminder that the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America’s Christmas luncheon and discussion about The Years Between takes place on Saturday 11th December at 12 noon CTS. Places for the event are now all taken, but it is possible to join in via Zoom.... More ››
The Arthur Quiller-Couch website – an informative new resource
4th December 2021: David Fryer, a vital member of the Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch Memorial Fund (the Q Fund) Committee, has asked us to tell you about an excellent and relatively new website dedicated to the life and works of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. ... More ››
A new Daphne du Maurier related blog from Jo Wing
2nd December 2021: Today the Daphne du Maurier website brings you another contribution from Jo Wing’s brilliant literary blog Return of a Native. In this piece entitled Going to the Chapel, Daphne du Maurier, Fowey, Cornwall, Jo talks about Daphne du Maurier’s wedding to Tommy, which took place at Lanteglos Church early in the morning on 19th July 1932... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – December luncheon and discussion of The Years Between
30th November 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America remind their members that the December meeting takes place on Saturday 11th December, noon – 2.30 pm. There will be a delicious luncheon. Then, oral historian and playwright Leonard Cox will review Daphne du Maurier’s play The Years Between and lead a discussion about the play... More ››
Fowey Festival Winter Auction 2021, Friday 26th – Sunday 28th November
25th November 2021: Fowey Festival is raising funds to help put together a fabulous Festival in May 2022. The auction includes a wonderful selection of items that have been generously donated by local Fowey businesses, artists, friends of the Festival and trustees. Lots include first editions, original artwork, paintings, ceramics, jewellery, trips, and much more. ... More ››https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/foweyfestivalwinterauction?mc_cid=94e7ecf1f2&mc_eid=342ef3b8ec
Fowey Festival 2021 online fundraising auction – Friday 26th – Sunday 28th November
22nd November 2021: Fowey festival has just announced their 2021 online fundraising auction, which runs from Friday 26th November to Sunday 28th November, ending at 6 pm. There will be fantastic items to bid for, including original art, 1st editions, ceramics, creative workshops, trips and more. So have fun ... More ››croppedandsmall.jpg)
Daphne du Maurier: sur les traces de Rebecca – documentary on Youtube
18th November 2021: The documentary Daphne du Maurier: In the Footsteps of Rebecca is available to view on Youtube. Here is a little more information about it... More ››
Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch family collection at the Morrab Library
16th November 2021: The Q fund has asked us to let you know that the Morrab Library in Penzance holds a large and varied selection of material relating to the lives and writings of the Couch Family. This includes a complete collection of the works of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch... More ››
Greetings cards inspired by Daphne du Maurier
16th November 2021: A few weeks ago, we told you about the beautiful new Daphne du Maurier related greetings cards created by Amanda White Designs. We are happy to tell you that the first card, representing Daphne’s novel The Loving Spirit, is now available to buy... More ››
Fowey Festival Calendar 2022
14th November 2021: The Fowey Festival team has produced the first-ever Festival wall calendar for you to enjoy for yourselves or give to someone as a present this Christmastime.... More ››https://www.foweyfestival.com/shop/sample-product/fowey-literary-festival-wall-calendar-2022-2/
Three Faced Doll, a new psychological thriller from Suzi Bamblett
13th November 2021: In February, we introduced you to Suzi Bamblett and her debut novel, The Travelling Philanthropist. Suzi's second novel Three Faced Doll is due to be published on Monday 15th November, and we are sure you are going to enjoy it just as much ... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – What’s left for 2021?
13th November 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society have sent us a poster remaining us all about their two remaining events for 2021, one on Saturday 20th November and the other on Saturday 11th December... More ››
Fowey Festival Adult Short Story Competition 2022 – Opens December 6th 2021
12th November 2021: As part of the 2022 festival, Fowey Festival will again be holding a short story competition for adults. For 2022 the title chosen is ‘Spring Picture’. This was the title of one of Daphne du Maurier’s less well known short stories, published in 1944. Hopefully, this year’s carefully chosen title will inspire all budding authors to write with a sense of optimism after the difficult period which forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Festivals (but not the short story competitions)... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – November Dinner and Movie Night reminder
9th November 2021: A reminder that the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America have their Dinner and Movie Night on Saturday 20th November from 6 pm – 8.30 pm. The film will be Nicholas Roeg’s marvellous adaptation of Don’t Look Now, starring Julie Christie and Donald Southerland... More ››
There Are Some Secrets by Sara Sass - Book Review
2nd November 2021: The Daphne du Maurier website recently received an email from the author, Sara Sass, telling us about her newly published book, There Are Some Secrets. This is a slim volume packed with fascinating facts. The book is principally about E.V. Lucas, his life and work, his family, friends and colleagues. While not specifically a du Maurier related biography, it includes lots of information about J.M. Barrie and the Llewelyn... More ››.jpg)
To celebrate Halloween, we have a guest post from Ella Buchan, co-author of A Gothic Cookbook
28th October 2021: As a treat for this Halloween, Ella Buchan, co-author of A Gothic Cookbook, shares with us a recipe for Rebecca’s “very special gingerbread” inspired by the afternoon tea spreads served at Manderley in Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca... More ››
The film Don’t Look Now is to be screened on BBC FOUR this week
23rd October 2021: A news flash for television viewers in the UK. Nicholas Roeg’s brilliant adaptation of Don’t Look Now, based on the short story by Daphne du Maurier, is to be screened on BBC FOUR on Thursday 28th October at 9 pm... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – Events Reminder
21st October 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America reminds members that the next event in the diary is the Don’t Look Now Dinner and Movie Night at 6 pm on Saturday 20th November. Then, at lunchtime on Saturday 11th December, it will be time to celebrate Christmas. ... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – Dinner and a Movie Night
October 5th 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America are having a Dinner and a Movie night on Saturday, November 20th 2021, 6 pm – 8.30 pm. The movie, on this occasion, will be Don’t Look Now, the excellent adaptation of, what is possibly, Daphne du Maurier’s most terrifying short story, directed by Nicholas Roeg and starring Julie Christie and Donald Southerland. ... More ››
John Miller and Tatiana de Rosnay discuss Rebecca on Apple podcast “The Great Books”
28th September 2021: Mary Ann Taylor, a member of the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America, has brought to our attention this great new podcast, in which John J Miller in the US talks to Tatiana de Rosnay in Paris, via Skype, about the novel and the films of Rebecca... More ››
The Guardian – Top 10 novels of the 1930s
26th September 2021: Author and journalist Alec Marsh has written an article in the Guardian newspaper this week naming the top ten novels of the 1930s. Alec’s own Drabble and Harris series of books are also set in the 1930s, so he is well placed to discuss books from this era. We are delighted to see Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca included in his choices.... More ››.jpg)
Greetings cards inspired by Daphne du Maurier
25th September 2021: Amanda White, a collage artist, who runs Amanda White Designs, is currently designing two beautiful Daphne du Maurier inspired greetings cards to add to her range of cards inspired by literature.... More ››
Platres: A Royal Resort by Lyudmila Budanova - book review
20th September 2021: In August, we told you about a new book about the village of Platres, in the Troodos Mountains, in Cyprus. The book, called Platres: A Royal Resort, was written by Lyudmila Budanova and is about the history of Platres, the interesting people, including Daphne du Maurier, who visited the village through its history, and day to day life in Platres now. We have now had the opportunity to read Lyudmila's book and we review it ... More ››
OCR Exam Board Boosts Diversity in English Literature Texts
19th September 2021: Exam board OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) has increased the diversity of its A-Level and GCSE English Literature syllabus, with a number of new titles, including novels, poetry and a play. These new texts will form part of the curriculum for English Literature students from September 2022... More ››
Two new Acquisitions at the British Library
18th September 2021: The British Library recently acquired two new du Maurier related items, which are fascinating and add to what we already know about Daphne du Maurier. The first item is a five-page letter, hand-written by Daphne and dated 25 October 1942. The second item is a single-page letter on Kilmarth headed notepaper dated 6 August 1977... More ››
The Women's Prize Trust and the company Girls on Tops launch Daphne du Maurier t-shirts
10th September 2021: As part of the Women's Prize Trust's mission to champion women writers on a global stage, they are launching a collaboration with Girls On Tops to produce a series of five t-shirts branded with the names of celebrated female authors who have changed the world, including DAPHNE DU MAURIER... More ››
The Blue Lenses and Help! I'm Turning into a Tapeworm (Don't Tell Me Not to Worry)
6th September 2021: From time to time, we include one of Stephen Alexander's du Maurier related blogs on his page in the Interesting Facts section of the Daphne du Maurier website. This one is a little strange but certainly links us to Daphne's short story, The Blue Lenses, and perhaps also to her novel The Parasites. ... More ››
The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America congratulate Davey Hal
6th September 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America congratulate Davie Hal on his wonderful CD Helford Honeymoon, inspired by Daphne du Maurier.... More ››
Five Wartime Walks In and Around Fowey by Paul Richards
1st September 2021: A new book has just been published in Fowey. While it is not specifically related to Daphne du Maurier, we think everyone whose interest in Daphne's work has led them to Fowey will find this book fascinating. Five Wartime Walks In and Around Fowey: Scenes of World War Two in a Cornish harbour town by local historian Paul Richards provides a fascinating insight into what WW2 meant to the town of Fowey, its residents, and the military personnel posted there... More ››
The Dark World of Daphne du Maurier’s Short Fiction by Nancy Bilyeau
29th August 2021: This week, author Nancy Bilyeau has written an interesting article in which she asks the question - Did the British novelist Daphne du Maurier express herself most honestly in short stories?... More ››
A reminder that the August 29th meeting of the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America has been cancelled, but looking forward to November’s Movie Night
27th August 2021: Just a quick reminder that, because of Covid, the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America have had to cancel their 2021 Short Story Study Day Meeting, discussing Daphne du Maurier’s chilling short story Don’t Look Now and comparing it to Ian McEwan’s 1981 psychological thriller The Comfort of Strangers . This event had been scheduled for 29th August. However, we must now look forward to the meeting on 21st November 2021, 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm. This event will be a Movie Night, ... More ››.jpg)
Sophie Reid is going to run the Daphne du Maurier website Twitter account
22nd August 2021: We are delighted to announce that Sophie Reid has agreed to run the Daphne du Maurier website Twitter account for us, starting almost immediately. Some of you may well recognise her from the literary festival that takes place in Fowey each year. She has attended many events and worked as a steward at a number of festivals when she was a student. Sophie has a great love for and vast knowledge of Daphne du Maurier... More ››
A huge thank you to Laura Varnam for running our Twitter account
17th August 2021: In May 2016, du Maurier expert and enthusiast Laura Varnam started the Daphne du Maurier Twitter account on behalf of the Daphne du Maurier website. During the five years, she has been responsible for it, she is proud to have gained over 3,700 followers... More ››
A new book about Platres, Cyprus
16th August 2021: A new book about the history of Platres, and present-day life there has just been published. This is the village in the Troodos Mountains where Daphne du Maurier and her family spent some time in 1936.... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – Cancellation of the August meeting
14th August 2021: Regrettably, the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America’s meeting, scheduled for Sunday 29th August, has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. This is very disappointing, but the only decision that could be taken in the circumstances.... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – August meeting
8th August 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America’s meeting, which takes place on Sunday 29th August at 1pm, is fully booked, and the waiting list for cancellations is also full. So, this is a reminder for all those who have secured a place. This event is the 2021 Short Story Study. SMU Victorian Literature Professor Beth Newman will discuss... More ››
University of Exeter Special Collections Archive – significant new acquisitions from the Maureen Baker-Munton Auction
5th August 2021: An archive of material relating to the life and work of Daphne du Maurier, held by Daphne’s friend and confidant Maureen Baker-Munton until her death, went up for auction in 2019. Some exceedingly significant lots were obtained by the Special Collections Archive at the University of Exeter, including manuscripts, documents... More ››
Daphne du Maurier: Sex and Death the Italian Way – An Illustrated Talk with Sue Zlosnick
1st August 2021: Sue Zlosnick presents Daphne du Maurier: Sex and Death the Italian Way at the Weaver Words Literary Festival, Frodsham, on Friday 3rd September 2021, at 3.00pm.... More ››
Gerald du Maurier and the Tank Called Nelson
22nd July 2021: An interesting piece of information has come up on our Twitter page, which includes reference to Gerald du Maurier. It is about one of the tanks used in a campaign organised by the National War Savings Committee. The tank was called Nelson, and it arrived in Hampstead in March 1918. ... More ››
Last night I dreamt I went to Platres again
21st July 2021: Helen Barrett lived in Cyprus for many years, returning to the UK recently. While in Cyprus, she researched a part of Daphne du Maurier’s life about which little was previously known and very little had been written. With the help of ... More ››.jpg)
Britannia and Eve Magazine July 1934 includes the Daphne du Maurier short story Leading Lady
20th July 2021: Today we have added the fifth snippet of information about Daphne du Maurier to the Interesting Facts section of our website, on the page headed ‘Questions, answers, and snippets of information shared through the Daphne du Maurier website’. On this occasion, we thank Steve Rudge for sharing his fantastic find of one of Daphne du Maurier earlies short stories ... More ››
The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – Upcoming events
13th July 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America has announced more events for 2021. We can now confirm that Professor Beth Newman will be the speaker leading the 2021 Short Story Study – Don’t Look Now event on Sunday, 29th August... More ››
An update on Helford Honeymoon by Davey Hal
13th July 2021: You can buy Davey Hal’s new EP, Helford Honeymoon, at Readymoney Beach Shop in Fowey and via their website (https://readymoneybeachshop.com)... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Lunchtime Lectures, Tuesday 13th July 2021 at 1pm, YMCA Theatre, Scarborough, YO11 1DY
9th July 2021: The creative sources of Daphne du Maurier’s extraordinary, disturbing and romantically-imagined fiction, including Rebeca, My Cousin Rachel, The Birds and Don’t Look Now, lay in a fascinating psychology, arising from her talented and troubled family background. Event Details: ... More ››
Musician Davey Hal brings us his new CD, Helford Honeymoon, inspired by his love for Daphne du Maurier and her writing
3rd July 2021: Musician Davey Hal has composed a collection of music inspired by the life and works of Daphne du Maurier. His CD entitled Helford Honeymoon, which includes all five pieces, is released today. To find out more, including how to order your copy... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – August meeting update
21st June 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America meeting to be held on 29th August 2021, which is to be a short story study of Don’t Look Now, has proved so popular that all 18 places have already been booked. Anyone wishing to be ... More ››
The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – August meeting
19th June 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America will be holding their next meeting on Sunday 29th August, 1pm – 3pm. This event will be a short story study of Don't Look Now. This most remarkable of all Daphne du Maurier's short stories, Don’t Look Now brings a perfect distillation of the confusion and desire that attend grief, which, as the story progresses, takes you through the winding streets of Venice to a conclusion of both logic and nightmare.... More ››
First Lady Jill Biden was given a first edition of Daphne du Maurier’s The Apple Tree
10th June 2021: News published in the ‘i’ today - President of the US, Joe Biden and his first lady have arrived in the UK for the G7 summit, being held at Carbis Bay in Cornwall. First Lady Jill Biden was given a first edition of Daphne du Maurier’s short story collection, The Apple Tree ... More ››
Fowey Festival presents Gill Hornby in Conversation: Thursday 27th May 2021 7.30pm – 8.30pm
19th May 2021: Fowey Festival presents Gill Hornby in Conversation, talking about her book Miss Austen. This is the third of their Zoom Online Events and follows the success of talks by Dr Helen Doe in February and Dr Helen Taylor in March... More ››
Celebrating the day Daphne du Maurier was born – May 13, 1907
13th May 2021: Today the Daphne du Maurier website takes great pleasure in reminding you that this is the day that our much-loved writer Daphne du Maurier was born. This year we celebrate her birthday with some of the opening words from Tatiana de Rosnay’s biography of Daphne du Maurier, Manderley Forever (published in the UK by Allen & Unwin in 2017)... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Reading Week 10th – 16th May 2021
10th May 2021: Daphne du Maurier Reading Week begins today. For the third year running, book reviewer and blogger Heavenali will be hosting, and she has lots of ideas about how you can take part no matter how much or little time you have... More ››
University of Liverpool Continuing Education Lecture on Don’t Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
7th May 2021: During Daphne du Maurier’s literary career, she perfected the art of the short story. This continuing education session provides the opportunity to appreciate and discuss her infamous short story Don’t Look Now and the other stories in the collection, Not After Midnight, A Border-line Case, The Way of the Cross and The Breakthrough... More ››
A last reminder for the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America’s next event on Saturday 8th May 2021, 6pm – 8.30pm
4th May 2021: A reminder that on Saturday 8th May, from 6pm – 8.30pm, the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America brings you a Dinner and Movie Night. The film will be the 2012 production of The Scapegoat starring Matthew Rhys. The evening begins with a French picnic dinner... More ››
Fowey Festival Short Story Competition 2021 Winners Announced
2nd May 2021: The Fowey Festival Short Story Competition 2021, with the title Breaking Point, taken from Daphne du Maurier's short story of the same name, has announced the winners. This year's competition proved to be very popular, making judging an enjoyable but challenging task. Best selling author Raynor Winn was the head judge, and after a reading committee had arrived at a shortlist, she chose the winner and the runner-up... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Reading Week 10th – 16th May 2021
1st May 2021: Book reviewer and blogger Heavenali has received her book order of two du Maurier titles ready for Daphne du Maurier Reading Week. This year she has chosen The du Mauriers and The King’s General... More ››
A Question about the du Maurier Search for Stars talent competition
26th April 2021: The Daphne du Maurier website recently received a question from Dan in Montreal, Canada. He took part in the du Maurier Search for Stars contest (also known as the du Maurier Search for Talent) when he was a student in 1979. Dan is looking for as much information as possible about all aspects of this competition,... More ››
A reminder that the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America’s next event is on Saturday 8th May 2021, 6pm – 8.30pm
24th April 2021: A reminder that on Saturday 8th May, from 6pm – 8.30pm, the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America brings you a Dinner and Movie Night. The film will be the 2012 production of The Scapegoat starring Matthew Rhys. This adaptation departs from the novel in several ways, but Daphne du Maurier’s dark psychological overtones are maintained. ... More ››
Announcing Daphne du Maurier Reading Week 2021
21st April 2021: For the third year running, book reviewer and blogger HEAVENALI will be hosting the Daphne du Maurier Reading Week. This event always takes place during the week of Daphne’s birthday on 13th May, so this year’s Reading Week will take place from 10th – 16th May. HEAVENALI shares her birthday with Daphne du Maurier, so that makes the week extra special. ... More ››
Daphne du Maurier 13th May 1907 – 19th April 1989
19th April 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America has shared this lovely poster with us today, celebrating the life of Daphne du Maurier, who died 32 years ago today, on 19th April 1989.... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America Dinner and Movie Night – Saturday 8th May 2021, 6pm – 8.30pm
13th April 2021: On Saturday 8th May, from 6pm – 8.30pm, the Society brings you a Dinner and Movie Night. The film will be the 2012 production of The Scapegoat starring Matthew Rhys. This adaptation departs from the novel in several ways, but Daphne du Maurier’s dark psychological overtones are maintained. ... More ››
HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh 1921 – 2021
10th April 2021: Yesterday, as news that the Duke of Edinburgh had passed away went around the world, it was received with great sadness and immense respect for the vital role he had played at our Queen's side since their marriage in 1947. Much is being said about his family life, military career, interests, and massive contribution to the country, the Commonwealth, and the environment, on the news channels and all media outlets throughout the world. ... More ››.jpg)
Happy Easter Everyone
3rd April 2021: Wishing a very Happy Easter to all of you who share our love of Daphne du Maurier through the Daphne du Maurier website and our Facebook and Twitter pages. The hedgerows in and around Fowey are full of spring flowers at the moment, including primroses, celandines, violets, daisies, and even bluebells. Here are some photographs of primroses and celandines flowering in Rashleigh Lane, Fowey. ... More ››
Daphne du Maurier: Looking Inward by Teresa Petersen
30th March 2021: We have added a new entry to our Book Recommendations page today. It relates to Teresa Petersen's book Daphne du Maurier: Looking Inward. Please read the review and the book and let us know what you think.... More ››
The Figurehead of the Jane Slade
27th March 2021: In our Interesting Facts section, we have an ongoing article that includes snippets of information and interest. Today we bring you a small piece about the figurehead of the Jane Slade, which some of you will have seen mounted on the wall of the du Maurier Browning’s family home, Ferryside, at Bodinnick on the River Fowey.... More ››
General Browning’s Car Makes a Reappearance
21st March 2021: There is an article in the April 2021 edition of Octane Magazine by Greg Moss entitled Boy’s Toy. It is all about the 1932 Ford Model B that Daphne du Maurier’s husband, Lieutenant-General Frederick ‘Boy’ Browning, owned. The article discusses General Browning’s life, military career and time working for the royal family and describes the car as it was when General Browning owned it and used it as a family car.... More ››
Sources of Truth – Daphne du Maurier through the eyes of her biographers
9th March 2021: Chris Main has written an excellent article for us about Daphne du Maurier through the eyes of her biographers. Since 1987 many books have been written about Daphne du Maurier, each one searching for the true identity of this enigmatic writer. In this must-read article, Chris has drawn together the threads of all the various biographers ... More ››
From Ján Hoch to Ivan du Maurier, then Leslie du Maurier, and finally Robert Maxwell
3rd March 2021: Today we bring you our second snippet of interesting du Maurier related facts. This time it is about the notorious media magnate Robert Maxwell. ... More ››
Tatiana de Rosnay's new novel, Flowers of Darkness, is published in the English language this week
26th February 2021: Franco-British author Tatiana de Rosnay is known to most of you as Daphne du Maurier's current biographer, with her excellent book Manderley Forever, published in France in 2015 and the US and UK in 2017. She is, in fact, better known as a novelist. In 2020 her newest novel, Les fleurs de l'ombre, was published in France. This week the English language edition of Tatiana's new book Flowers of Darkness was published... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America March 2021 meeting – The Scapegoat
25th February 2021: This is a reminder that the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America has its next meeting on Sunday 14th March from 1pm – 3pm. They will be discussing various aspects of the novel The Scapegoat with speaker Professor Sarah Berry from the University of Dallas. ... More ››
Fowey Festival 2021 will not take place, but there is some good news
24th February 2021: Following the Prime Minister's latest announcement regarding social distancing restrictions and public gatherings, the board of trustees of the Fowey Festival have confirmed that they will not be holding the 2021 Festival, scheduled for May 8th -15th. The good news is, in 2022, the Festival will take place on May 6th – 14th. The team are committed to delivering a Festival to remember, so please add the dates to your diary. ... More ››
Celebrating the 90th anniversary of Daphne du Maurier's first novel – The Loving Spirit
23rd February 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America join us in celebrating the 90th anniversary of the publication of Daphne du Maurier's first novel, The Loving Spirit. ... More ››.jpg)
The Loving Spirit, Daphne du Maurier's first novel, celebrates its 90th anniversary today
23rd February 2021: In this article, written to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the publication of The Loving Spirit, we take a look at the du Maurier family in the late 1920s and how the advent of Ferryside, as the du Maurier's holiday home, gradually altered the dynamics of Daphne's life. We tell you how the Slade family and their boatyard's real story came to be written into Daphne du Maurier's first novel and what Daphne's life was like at the time she was writing it. ... More ››.jpg)
Milton Hall - The House that inspired Manderley
14th February 2021: The great house of Milton Hall that Daphne visited with her mother and sisters when she was a child, stayed in her memory and was bound to Menabilly in the creation of Manderley for Daphne's most famous novel Rebecca. In this fascinating article Chris Main tells us about Milton Hall, the Fitzwilliam family who owned it, and Daphne's visits, as a child, during World War One. ... More ››.jpg)
The Travelling Philanthropist: A time-slip novel – historical fiction with a difference, by Suzi Bamblett
13th February 2021: We want to tell you about The Travelling Philanthropist, the debut novel written by Suzi Bamblett. If her name is familiar to you, it is because Suzi has already written two articles for the Daphne du Maurier website... More ››
Questions, answers, and snippets of information shared through the Daphne du Maurier website
11th February 2021: We have a new page in our Interesting Facts section, where we plan to put all sorts of snippets of du Maurier related information that we hear about or that you send in. These will be little details that we might otherwise not have known. We begin with our first snippet about the Spanish for cardigan, which is apparently una rebeca. ... More ››
Daphne by Justine Picardie
9th February 2021: A few weeks ago, I received a question, through our Daphne du Maurier Website Facebook page, about the novel Daphne and its author Justine Picardie. Daphne was published in 2008. I have such happy memories of this novel, and so I decided to re-read it again. I was not disappointed; it always holds the magic that I remember from my first reading... More ››
The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America announces its first meeting for 2021
5th February 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America is holding its first meeting of 2021 on Sunday 14th March. This meeting will be about Daphne’s 1957 novel The Scapegoat. Professor Sarah Berry, from the University of Dallas, will be the speaker... More ››
Ned Browning shares with us his alternative theme for Rebecca
3rd February 2021: Daphne du Maurier’s grandson Ned Browning had just made available to us all, a piece of music he created at the time that the recent Netflix adaptation of Rebecca was being filmed. He decided he would have a go at an alternative theme for the new Rebecca movie. He started it before he actually saw the remake which he was expecting to be a little darker than it was, especially because Ben Wheatley was directing ... More ››.jpg)
Dora Footman (1878 – 1974)
28th January 2021: Daphne du Maurier’s Cousin Dora arrived in Tywardreath, just two miles from Menabilly, in December 1966. She was 88 and had decided to come and live near Daphne without even discussing it first. She lived for a further seven years, and was quite a challenge for Daphne! Here, Chris Main tells us the story of Dora Footman, a woman born into the world of the du Mauriers. She lived a fascinating, but sometimes difficult life, before finally ending up on Daphne’s doorstep... More ››
A Sucessora (1934, The Successor) by Carolina Nabuco and other books that tell a similar story
19th January 2021: A new piece in our Interesting Facts section of the website, which leads you the excellent article - A trail of books: on Carolina Nabuco's A Sucessora (1934, The Successor) and the plagiarism charges against Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca (1938) by Juliana, at her blog called The Blank Garden... More ››
One of Daphne du Maurier’s youngest followers writes about Rebecca
9th January 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America has sent us this charming letter so that we, at the Daphne du Maurier website, can share it with you all. It was written by twelve-year-old Madison, who must be one of Daphne du Maurier’s youngest followers. Madison is the daughter of one of the members of the Daphne du Maurier Society of North America... More ››.jpg)
Help with finding Spanish translations of Daphne du Maurier biography and autobiography
8th January 2021: We have had a request come through on the Daphne du Maurier website Forum page, that needs your help. The sender of the question is looking for a biography about Daphne du Maurier in Spanish. I am not aware of one but would be happy to hear from some of you to the contrary. The same person wants to know if Daphne’s biography Myself When Young has ever been translated into Spanish... More ››
Collecting Daphne
6th January 2021: A new year is often the time to try something new, start a new hobby, join and organisation relating to your interests, or begin a collection. Chris Main and Ann Willmore have written a new article for the Daphne du Maurier website, which aims to encourage collectors of books and ephemera relating to Daphne du Maurier. Here you will find facts to help you and tips to ensure you avoid making costly mistakes ... More ››.jpg)
Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall, photographed by Jo Wing
5th January 2021: Jo Wing writes a beautiful literary blog under the name Return of a Native. To learn more about her go to her blog, https://returnofanative.com, it is terrific. She has sent us an album of her photographs, all relating to Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall. They are fabulous and an outstanding record of how beautiful Daphne’s Cornwall is... More ››
Daphne du Maurier Society of North America – Newsletter January 2021
4th January 2021: The Daphne du Maurier Society of North America has sent us their January 2021 newsletter to share with you all. They review the Christmas in Cornwall Luncheon, which took place on 12th December 2020, and sounds as if it was both interesting and a lot of fun. They also set out their programme of events for 2021. This year they have chosen Daphne du Maurier’s 1957 novel The Scapegoat, and the short story Don’t Look Now, which was published in 1971 and so celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. ... More ››