Episode 9.3: ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier
Our dark academia adjacent title for this season is one of Sophie’s favourite books. ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier is a masterclass in Gothic suspense and it’s something that we’ve needed to tackle on the podcast for a very long time.
On a trip to the South of France, the shy heroine of Rebecca falls in love with Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower. Although his proposal comes as a surprise, she happily agrees to marry him. But as they arrive at her husband's home, Manderley, a change comes over Maxim, and the young bride is filled with dread. Friendless in the isolated mansion, she realises that she barely knows him. In every corner of every room is the phantom of his beautiful first wife, Rebecca, and the new Mrs de Winter walks in her shadow.
Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the other woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.
This is going to be Sarah’s first read of this novel and we’re so excited to head to Manderley for an adventure into the Gothic - a foundation of dark academia.
In this episode we discuss:
Villains and sympathising with villains
Maxim’s obsession with Mrs De Winter’s youth and innocence
We discuss the power of weather and seasons acting as a character
You can listen to it here:
TEXTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier
‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt
‘The Ruins’ by Phoebe Wynne
Jane Austen
‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë
‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker
OTHER MEDIA AND POP CULTURE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Bridgerton
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