Books

New York: Doubleday, Doran, 1938. First American edition. Very Good. Octavo ( 7 7/8 x 5 1/2 inches; 200 x 140 mm.). [vi], [1]-457, [1, blank] pp. A Very good copy that shows very well and with the signature of Daphne Du Maurier. Pages 387/388 with large repaired tear (no loss) and several other pages with short tears. Two ink signatures of former owners on front flyleaf. Rear flyleaf and paste down with pencil notes, etc. Publisher's maroon cloth with silver foil band at center printed in black. Du Maurier’s sensationally popular gothic novel is about the marriage between a young American woman and a rich, British widower, as they are haunted by the memory of his late-wife Rebecca. The book quickly became a best seller after its publication, selling close to three million copies in the thirty or so years after its release. The novel won a National Book Award in 1938 – when the award was voted on by booksellers, interesting enough – and came in 14th on the BBC's 2003 survey…

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. The novel 'Rebecca', by Daphne du Maurier, begins with this evocative sentence, setting the tone for a story of romance, jealousy, and intrigue. The unnamed protagonist, a young and naive woman, marries the charismatic Maxim de Winter after a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo. Upon moving to his ancestral estate, Manderley, she confronts the pervasive influence of his late wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on long after her death.

Look for 'First published 1938' by Victor Gollancz Ltd, London on the copyright page.