Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Published: 1938
Novel.

While working as the companion to a rich American woman on holiday in Monte Carlo, a naïve young woman in her early 20s, becomes acquainted with a wealthy Englishman, Maximilian de Winter, a widower aged 42. After a fortnight of courtship, she agrees to marry him and, after the wedding and honeymoon, accompanies him to his mansion in Cornwall. 

Mrs. Danvers, the sinister housekeeper, was profoundly devoted to the first Mrs. de Winter, Rebecca, who died in a boating accident about a year before Maxim and the second Mrs. de Winter's met. She continually attempts to undermine the new Mrs. de Winter psychologically, subtly suggesting to her that she will never attain the beauty, urbanity and charm her predecessor possessed. Whenever the new Mrs. de Winter attempts to make changes at Manderley, Mrs. Danvers describes how Rebecca ran it when she was alive. Each time Mrs. Danvers does this, she implies that the new Mrs. de Winter lacks the experience and knowledge necessary for running an important estate. 

She is soon convinced that Maxim regrets his impetuous decision to marry her and is still deeply in love with Rebecca. The climax occurs at Manderley's annual costume ball. 

Characters: 

The narrator/second Mrs. de Winter. 

Maximilian de Winter. 

Mrs. Danvers

Rebecca de Winter