Frenchman's Creek (Cover to Cover Audio Books) [Audio Cassette]

Daphne Du Maurier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1940 | Series: Cover to Cover Audio Books

"Highly personalized adventure, ultra-romantic mood, and skillful storytelling." —New York Times

DAPHNE DU MAURIER'S LOST CLASSIC; AN ELECTRIFYING TALE OF LOVE AND SCANDAL ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Jaded by the numbing politeness of Restoration London, Lady Dona St. Columb revolts against high society. She rides into the countryside, guided only by her restlessness and her longing to escape.

But when chance leads her to meet a French pirate, hidden within Cornwall's shadowy forests, Dona discovers that her passions and thirst for adventure have never been more aroused. Together, they embark upon a quest rife with danger and glory, one which bestows upon Dona the ultimate choice: sacrifice her lover to certain death or risk her own life to save him.

Frenchman's Creek is the breathtaking story of a woman searching for love and adventure who embraces the dangerous life of a fugitive on the seas.

(20090327)

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Anyone who has ever felt the need to escape from the cage of daily life will identify with and love this book. (Lisa Harvey Book Thoughts By Lisa 20090505)

The denouement will keep one thinking for a long time after the book has been finished, and would be a great discussion topic for book groups. (Sharon Goforth Ex Libris 20090506)

The story is intriguing and the book is an absolute pleasure to read. I had a lovely time with this, and I think you would too. (Meghan Kawka Medieval Bookworm 20090513)

I really liked Frenchman's Creek, it reminded me why classics are classics, endured for many generations and will be read by countless others. (Liliana Swistek Reading Extravaganza 20090514)

[A]n entertaining, very well written story... (CaiteMaire Fitz A Lovely Shore Breeze 20090522)

Be careful when you set out to read this novel. Daphne du Maurier will capture your imagination with more stealth, speed, and skill than any of her pirates ever could. (Jennifer Conner The Literate Housewife 20090526)

This is a entertaining read and one I would recommend if you enjoy a classic historical romance. (Darlene Smoliak Peeking Between the Pages 20090526)

Wow, I can certainly tell why Sourcebooks wants to bring back stories like these!... Frenchman's Creek is a most satisfying tale. (Barbara Ligens Book Loons 20090527)

This is excellent and intense storytelling, many thanks to Sourcebooks for re-releasing the novels of this classic author. (Carey Anderson The Tome Traveller's Weblog 20090529)

I was so caught up in the story that I did not want to put it down. (Kristi Herbrand Books and Needlepoint 20090602)

I heartily recommend Frenchman's Creek to anyone who appreciates romance, mystery or the gothic novel... I praise Sourcebooks for bringing her work to a new generation of readers. (Tina Baich Reader for Life 20090602)

I am just sorry that it has taken me this long to read something by this fantastic author. This will not be the last book I read by her though, that's a guarantee! (Tracee Gleichner The Review From Here 20090602)

It's romantic and scandalous and adventurous. The most pleasant journey I've ever taken with a pirate. (Corinne Edwards The Book Nest 20090604)

[I]t was definitely enjoyable. She has quite a way with words, the language she used was simply beautiful. (Jen Karbaek Devourer of Books )

Fans of Rafael Sabatini and other romantic period adventures will be quite pleased with this book. (Tripp Ritter Books are My Only Friends )

This is a fabulous read for fans of romance or fans of gothic historical fiction and it is a tribute to the folks at Sourcebooks for choosing such a timeless classic to reprint today. (Michele Jacobson A Reader's Respite ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Daphne du Maurier was born in London in 1907, the second daughter of a famous stage actor and actress. Her first novel was published in 1931, but it was her 1938 novel Rebecca which made her one of the most successful writers of her time. Alfred Hitchcock's adaptation of the book won the Best Picture Oscar in 1940, and he used her material again for his classic The Birds. In 1969, Du Maurier was created a Dame of the British Empire.

At the age of 81, Du Maurier died at home in her beloved Cornwall, the region that had been the setting for many of her books.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: John Curley & Assoc (June 1940)
• ISBN-10: 9998862876
• ISBN-13: 978-9998862876
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,325,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Daphne du Maurier was born in 1906 and educated at home and in Paris. She began writing in 1928, and many of her bestselling novels were set in Cornwall, where she lived for most of her life. She was made a DBE in 1969 and died in 1989.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lady Dona's Acceptance of Womanhood, December 8, 2002

By 

Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" (Kenner, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frenchman's Creek (Germany and the United States of America) (Audio Cassette)

Anyone who feels trapped in a mid-life crisis or just a plain old stagnant existence for a seemingly unendurable amount of time will empathize with Du Maurier's bored and beautiful Dona St. Columb and enjoy her exploits with the man of her escapist dreams, Jean, the pirate master of La Mouette. While the adventure excites and the romance titillates, Du Maurier manages, quite subtly to explore the timeless themes of true freedom versus responsibility and the changing nature of love from its first incendiary spark to the mellow flame of comfortable love of long-time partners.

Do yourself a favor and skip Du Maurier's first chapter---don't get discouraged by it, it is merely a ploy used by the author to suggest the timeless quality of love that lingers off the coast of Cornwall even to the modern day---read this chapter over again after you finish the book and it will lose its old fashioned storyteller's introduction and emit the haunting ghostlike ambiance it was meant to suggest.

Rather than look at this as the tale of an adultress as one of the other reviewers strongly points out, imagine Dona as confused, not yet content enough to live out her days with Harry, the children and the dogs until she has found her own identity and come to terms with who and what she is.

I imagine Du Maurier herself, having such questions whirl around in her own mind as she spun her tales at Menabilly--basically alone in the country while her husband was at war. The adventure of Dona St. Columb speaks of Du Maurier's own sense of restlessness and universally allows all of us to freely associate and commiserate. All of the Du Maurier heroines are trapped in worlds where they are dependent on their strong males counterparts. Du Maurier's portrayals suggest her view of woman's vantage point a dismal one---woman acquiesce; they only find a life when they do.

This is a wonderful story of a young wife who transforms from child to woman in less than 300 pages. She becomes a boy to experience the ultimate freedom that she will never have as a woman. At the end she must return to her her trap, content or discontent to know her place as a woman. I have read 'Frenchman's Creek' and listened to it at least ten times, always taking from it something new as my own life develops. Highly recommended as a real classic romance.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Rebecca!, November 13, 2001

By 

A. Y. Smittle (Winchester, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frenchmans Creek (Mass Market Paperback)

Rebecca was good. Jamaica Inn was okay. But Frenchman's Creek was great! Du Maurier really outdid herself. She took the heart of a woman and made it plain. What romantic wouldn't like this story? Pirates, adventure, philosophy and romance....better than those frilly romance books nowadays. Dona went on a quest and fulfilled it. The first chapter is boring---skip it; I put it down for a time because I was unimpressed. But it is really good. I read parts of it to people as they were working (while I joyfully read) and they kept asking, "what happened next?" Every time I would give a little giggle of glee. This is really good. Rebecca and Jamaica Inn are "dark" novels; but this is an exploration into a womans mind. I comprehend and adore Ms. Dumaurier! Another good writer found!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully read! A Harlequin novel with Class!, June 8, 1999

By 

GATSBY KIN (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frenchman's Creek (Germany and the United States of America) (Audio Cassette)

Although I am not a fan of Harlequin novels, I am a loyal fan of John Castle. I sought out this novel specifically because he is the reader. The novel is set in Cornwall in the 1700's -- a bored, lonely Lady St. Columb flees city life with her two children and nanny to the country house where she and her husband honeymooned 7 years before. She stumbles upon the hideout of a French pirate who has been plundering her neighbors. She disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins in the fun, outwitting her stuffy neighbors and husband, falling in love with the scoundrel, and saving his life before he is hanged for his bad deeds.

Being from a blue-collar working class American family, the custom of having servants is foreign to me. I couldn't understand why this country house, which sat vacant for 7 years, was still staffed with a butler, groom, and gardener.

This novel is beautifully read by Mr. Castle, whose change in voice and inflection clearly lets you know which character is talking. He kindly refrains from talking in falsetto for Lady St. Columb! The graphic descriptions of the countryside, the languid pace, and the soliloquies make this an ideal companion for a summer vacation or trip to the shore. It's a refreshing change from the internet abbreviations and shorthand which are becoming standard in writing today. I loved this audiobook and plan to listen to it again and again.

This novel was made into a movie in about 1944. Why doesn't someone do a re-make of this? Antonio Banderas would be ideal for the pirate; Kate Winslet for Lady St. Columb. I'll stand in line for a ticket for this one!