"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."
Don't be put off by the old-fashioned front cover or the fact that it was published in 1938. 'Rebecca' is a fantastic novel that is very easy to read and understand.
'Rebecca' is the tale of an unnamed narrator who meets and quickly marries the mysterious Mr de Winter in Monte Carlo. They go to live in Manderley, Mr de Winter's country mansion in England. However, the couple barely know each other and Mrs de Winter discovers that her husband is still mourning the death of late wife, Rebecca. Mrs de Winter cannot escape the constant comparisons to the seemingly perfect Rebecca and has to cope with the housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, who appears to loathe her taking Rebecca's place in the house. Not all is as it seems at Manderley, though, as Mrs de Winter learns more about it.
This book is romantic, suspenseful and eerie in all the right places. It is also beautifully written with some very intriguing characters, the housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, in particular. The narrator is much younger than Mr de Winter and her innocence is charming. She is also very easy to relate to and holds many of the same insecurities that a modern female reader has. The plot is well developed and keeps you guessing with some subtle hints crafted throughout.
I would really recommend this book, especially if you are studying gothic literature at school/college/university as it includes many traditional conventions of this genre. Also, you might want to check it out if you enjoyed 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte or Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'.
Let me know if you've read 'Rebecca' and of any other books you recommend.
