Rebecca in 100 books to read before you die

Oct 16, 2012 Gayle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Throughout Rebecca, the second Mrs de Winter is never named. We first meet her living with her husband (who is Maxim, but we don't know that yet), in an unnamed place in Europe. We know from the opening lines that Manderley has been destroyed. The book then rewinds to her as a young woman, a companion to Mrs Van Hopper, who likes to associate herself with the rich upper classes. In this way she meets Maxim de Winter, whom everyone knows is a rich widow who lives at Manderley and whose wife drown Throughout Rebecca, the second Mrs de Winter is never named. We first meet her living with her husband (who is Maxim, but we don't know that yet), in an unnamed place in Europe. We know from the opening lines that Manderley has been destroyed. The book then rewinds to her as a young woman, a companion to Mrs Van Hopper, who likes to associate herself with the rich upper classes. In this way she meets Maxim de Winter, whom everyone knows is a rich widow who lives at Manderley and whose wife drowned there. Max treats her kindly and when Mrs Van Hopper becomes ill and is looked after by a nurse, she has more free time in which they lunch together and go on drives. Maxim is preoccupied and difficult to get to know, but she loves him from the beginning. One afternoon she leaves with a book of Rebecca’s poetry dedicated to Max and signed R with a sloping hand (which is often used on the book cover).

Mrs Van Hopper is ill for a few weeks and she drives with Maxim everyday lying to her employer about her whereabouts saying she is having tennis lessons. Once recovered Mrs Van Hopper decides she wants to join her daughter in America. When the young woman goes to say goodbye to Maxim, he proposes. They tell Mrs Van Hopper right away, get married and go on honeymoon, the details of which are not included.

The book rejoins them travelling to Manderley for the first time. She is tired and dazzled by the spectacular house and is introduced to the servants. She doesn’t know how to act and is inexperienced and really of a different class to Maxim. Mrs Danvers is deliberately austere, rude and arrogant towards her and immediately they set off on the wrong foot. She gets nervous easily and is clumsy, breaking an expensive ornament. She gets lost in the house and wanders into the West Wing where Mrs Danvers keeps Rebecca’s rooms just as they were, it's like a museum. She internalises a lot about not having the right clothes but has no interest in spending money. Everywhere she looks is she reminded of Rebecca, how capable she was, how fabulous the parties and how many people loved her.

Within a few days she meets Beatrice, Maxim’s sister and Giles his brother in law, and they seem to like each other. Frank, Maxim's agent is also friendly. But she constantly worries she is not good enough for Maxim and wishes they were still alone together on honeymoon.

Urged my some local visitors, they decide to host another fancy dress party of the type Manderley is famous for. She needs to choose an outfit and is encouraged by Mrs Danvers to dress as a painting of Caroline de Winter. She wants to keep it a surprise but when she comes down dressed as Caroline to greet her guests, everyone is horrified - it is the same outfit worn by Rebecca at the last party. She gets very upset returns to her room to change and tries to carry on as normal but has an awful time and Maxim is very angry with her.

Details about Rebecca's death are slowly revealed. We learn that Rebecca went missing one evening and that Maxim identified her body. Mrs Danvers is still grieving, and it is less than a year since her death. A local man she meets on the beach called Ben, “an idiot” mumbles things to her (which refer to Rebecca - though she does not understand him) and that he is worried about being sent to the asylum. He has been using the beach cottage on the estate without permission and is given a warning. She returns from a walk one day and meets Jack Favell, who was Rebecca’s first cousin. He has come to see Mrs Danvers when Maxim was away and she does not think this is acceptable.

A ship is run aground near Manderley and whilst divers are trying to free it, they uncover Rebecca’s boat and body at the same time. Maxim confesses to her that he killed Rebecca because he hated her. She was a horrible, vindictive wife, spent lots of money and had affairs (including with her cousin Jack Favell). In the heat of an argument he shot her at the beach cottage, dragged her to her boat and sunk it. He is aware that the body he identified was not Rebecca. Ben witnessed the events, but has always kept quiet for fear of being sent away.

An inquest is held to establish Rebecca's cause of death and how her boat could have sunk. Eventually a verdict of suicide is given but it looks bad for Maxim as there is no motive for suicide. After the inquest Jack Favell comes to the house and demands that the coroner is called to hear his story, he believes Maxim murdered her. He has a letter from Rebecca written on the day of her death which says she has something to tell him and he must meet her. Mrs Danvers produces Rebecca’s diary and Maxim, Mrs de Winter, Frank and the coroner travel to London and follow a lead on a Doctor Baker who reveals that Rebecca (using the name Mrs Danvers) had terminal cancer. Maxim has been lucky, Favell's evidence has helped him, and the verdict of suicide is now more believable. Maxim is cleared of all suspicion. Of course, our narrator knows the truth, she also thinks Frank and the coroner knows he did it. While in London they are informed that Mrs Danvers has packed and left Manderley. As they are returning home they see in the sky a glowing red - Manderley is on fire.

This was a reread, but it is now so long ago since I read it the first time as a teenager, that I had forgotten most of it and only really remember some events from the two film adaptations I’ve watched. I think the films focus more on the sinister character of Mrs Danvers and I was surprised how little she is really in it, because on rereading it, all I thought about was the ghost of Rebecca. In the first half the book she is someone idolised by everyone, beautiful and competent. This changes in the second half where we come to know her true character and of events surrounding her death. I really routed for Mrs de Winter (the second) and I wanted her marriage to Maxim marriage to be successful. I also loved the quiet role played by the agent, Frank. Manderely was extremely vivid in my mind throughout the book, as were the garden and the cove with the beach cottage. And that first line, it has stayed with me for thirty years and is the only line of a book I can quote by heart, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”. Fabulous. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2013 Lucy rated it really liked it

This book was so weird. I can't really think of another way to describe it except that; it was simply odd. But a very good odd. I thought the descriptions especially were lovely and it certainly kept me intrigued. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 10, 2016 Vanessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

While the story itself is powerful and captivating, I think what strikes me most about this book is the fact that the narrator and main POV character is never named.

Could there be a more fitting analogy for a second wife completely eclipsed by the shadow of the first? Maybe, but I can't imagine one.

Absolutely fabulous book. ...more

Like · see review