Daphne du Maurier’s life was as enigmatic and vibrant as the characters in her novels. Born into a world of theater and creativity, she carved her own path, blending her personal experiences with the moody, atmospheric settings of her fiction. Her legacy is immortalized in the pages of her best-known work, "Rebecca," which continues to captivate readers worldwide.

Early Life and Family Influences

On May 13, 1907, Daphne du Maurier entered the world in London, as the daughter of the noted actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier. While her childhood was shared with two sisters, her deepest companionship was with her father, whose adventurous spirit and romantic nature left an indelible mark on her. From an early age, Daphne yearned for the freedom and independence typically afforded to men of her era, even creating an alter ego, Eric Avon, to live out her fantasies of a liberated life.

Shaping Personal and Professional Identity

Determined to avoid the domestic confines she perceived in her mother's life, du Maurier sought to forge her own identity. Her father's charismatic presence and the enigmatic allure he held over her seemed to seep into her fiction and her real-world choices. These paternal fantasies were not only manifested in her literary heroes but also seemed to influence her marriage to Frederick A. M. Browning, and her profound friendships with women, some of which were romantic.

Education and Literary Beginnings

Du Maurier's formal education included private schooling in England followed by a finishing school in Camposena, near Paris, in 1923. By the end of the 1920s, she was immersing herself in writing short stories and exploring three obsessions: her family history, the rugged beauty of Cornwall, and an enigmatic house known as Menabilly. These interests intertwined closely with her burgeoning literary career, culminating in her debut novel, The Loving Spirit, in 1931. She soon married Major Frederick A. M. Browning, embarking on a life that was as peripatetic as it was artistically fruitful.

The Cornwall Connection

While du Maurier cherished the idea of settling in Cornwall, the demands of her husband's military career meant she frequently relocated. Despite these disruptions, Cornwall remained the heart of her imagination and writing. It was during a stint in Alexandria, Egypt, that she penned her most famous novel, Rebecca, a work steeped in the Cornish landscape.

Literary Success and Recognition

The acclaim and financial success following the publication of Jamaica Inn in 1936 and Rebecca in 1938 catapulted du Maurier into the literary spotlight. Alfred Hitchcock's film adaptations brought additional fame, with Rebecca winning the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1940. Du Maurier's bibliography expanded to include ten novels, two plays, and a variety of biographies, histories, and memoirs, many of which resonated strongly with female readers. Despite her widespread popularity, her work was often dismissed by male critics and largely overlooked by academic circles at the time.

Life at Menabilly and Subsequent Changes

In 1943, du Maurier finally moved into Menabilly, the very house that inspired Manderley, the grand estate in Rebecca. Her accomplishments continued to be recognized; she was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1952 and became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1969. However, following the death of her close friend and muse Gertrude Lawrence, du Maurier led a more secluded life. The death of her husband in 1965 and the loss of the Menabilly lease in 1969 marked the beginning of a more introspective chapter, as she relocated nearby to Kilmarth in Cornwall.

Late Years and Enduring Impact

In 1978, du Maurier’s contributions to literature were acknowledged with the Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award. That same year, she published her autobiography, Growing Pains: The Shaping of a Writer, which offered insights into her early life up until her marriage. Her 1980 work, The Rebecca Notebook, and Other Memories, provided a glimpse into the creative process behind her most iconic novel. In her final years, du Maurier's health declined, and she passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 19, 1989. Her enduring influence was cemented when "Rebecca" was posthumously honored with the Anthony Award for best novel of the century in 2000.