Rebecca » (Unabridged)

Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) has been called one of the great shapers of popular culture and the modern imagination. Among her more famous works are Jamaica Inn, The Scapegoat, Rebecca, and the short story "The Birds," all of which were subsequently made into films, the latter two directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She lived for many years in Cornwall, England, and in 1969 became Dame Daphne du Maurier.

When Maxim de Winter brings his shy new bride to his beautiful stately home on the Cornwall coast, it seems like all her dreams have come true. But she soon finds that Manderley is haunted by the shadow of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, who died the year before. As the hot summer fades, the mystery of Rebecca's death grows, weaving a spell of fear and foreboding. In a series of climactic revelations, Rebecca's memory is finally laid to rest, but at what cost? Harriet Walter reads Daphne du Maurier’s Gothic masterpiece.

Library Journal

Surely no audiobook collection should be without some version of this timeless classic, arguably the most famous and well-loved gothic novel of the 20th century, and this production would be an excellent choice. Read in wonderfully British cadences by Anna Massey, all the mysterious and oppressive nuances are made immediate and chilling. We even feel some sympathy for the absurdly timid and cowering heroine; it is, after all, easy to imagine feeling woefully inferior to the predecessor and desperately eager to please. Of course the story requires great leaps of credulity; imagine a new bride hearing her husband confessing to the cold-blooded killing of his first wife and disposing of her body, and him ultimately getting away with murder, all without turning a hair, glad only to find that he had not even loved the glorious Rebecca so they can live happily ever after. Not how you remember it? Forget the movie; it makes mincemeat of the actual tale. A wise seven-year-old once told me, "The book is always better--it goes right into your head." This is a prime example--listen again; it gets even better. Highly recommended.--Harriet Edwards, East Meadow P.L., NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\