Daphne du Maurier [Import] [Hardcover]

Margaret Forster (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Chatto & Windus; New Ed edition (1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0701161671
• ISBN-13: 978-0701161675
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,078,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars portrait of an artist, June 3, 2007

By 

Garden Rose (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daphne Du Maurier: The Secret Life of the Renowned Storyteller (Hardcover)

Daphne du Maurier was a consummate artist and Forster's excellent biography portrays her sympathetically, yet realistically. To begin to understand du Maurier one must understand that she considered fantasy more exciting than the real world. A child of privilege, Daphne grew up in a highly social and colorful artist's family, yet she greatly valued being alone. Her work was very lucrative, yet she spent much more money to help family and friends than on herself. Her writing is part of college curriculum and extremely popular. She was accepted into the Order of Knighthood for her contribution to the arts. Forster's apparently well-researched biography is written in a casual style, often humorous. Many people have something to say about Daphne and I found her own quotes the most interesting, yet, chameleon-like, she eludes the reader and remains mysterious.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and sensitive portrayal of Daphne du Maurier, October 28, 2009

By 

thereadaholic (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daphne Du Maurier (Paperback)

Margaret Forster's well-researched biography comprehensively and sensitively attempts to portray the enigma of author Daphne du Maurier.

The daughter of a renowned actor and theatre-manager and grand-daughter of a famous illustrator and novelist, Daphne inherits her forebears artistic talents but not their sociable nature. From an early age she prefers living on her own in a remote corner of Cornwell rather than partying with the debutantes of her day.

Her first novel was inspired as much by finances as artistic talent - although her parents would always provide her with an allowance, her own income allowed her to live how and where she wanted. Yet she never defined herself a feminist.

A passionate, prickly and troubled soul, Daphne spent her life confused by her bisexual feelings and need for solitude. Nonetheless she married and had a family but sadly continued her forebears' tradition of favouring her son over her two daughters. Her talent and generosity, however, were renowned and she contributed almost as much to the preservation of her corner of Cornwell as to English literature.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Depth Look at Fascinating Author, April 29, 2009

By 

Penny M. Peck "ppvet" (Springfield MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daphne Du Maurier: The Secret Life of the Renowned Storyteller (Hardcover)

This extremely well researched book was fun to read and gave a lot of insight into Daphne's life and work. Daphne's real character is illuminated and sensitively portrayed. Especially interesting for those interested in gender and transgender issues and fans of Daphne. Made me want to read and study more of Daphne's work and to visit Cornwall!