The Doll - by Daphne Du Maurier (Paperback)

About the Book

"Du Maurier is in a class by herself."--New York Times

Perhaps best known for her immortal gothic masterwork Rebecca--the basis for the Academy Award-winning motion picture directed by Alfred Hitchcock--Daphne de Maurier began her illustrious writing career penning short stories. In The Doll, thirteen of du Maurier's early shorter fictional works have been collected--each story written before the author's twenty-third birthday and some in print for the first time since the 1930s. Compelling tales of human foibles and tragic romance, the stories in The Doll represent the emergence of a remarkable literary talent who later went on to create Jamaica Inn, The Birds, and other classic works. This breathtaking collection of short fiction belongs on the bookshelf of every Daphne du Maurier fan.

Book Synopsis

"Du Maurier is in a class by herself."
--New York Times

Perhaps best known for her immortal gothic masterwork Rebecca--the basis for the Academy Award-winning motion picture directed by Alfred Hitchcock--Daphne de Maurier began her illustrious writing career penning short stories. In The Doll, thirteen of du Maurier's early shorter fictional works have been collected--each story written before the author's twenty-third birthday and some in print for the first time since the 1930s. Compelling tales of human foibles and tragic romance, the stories in The Doll represent the emergence of a remarkable literary talent who later went on to create Jamaica Inn, The Birds, and other classic works. This breathtaking collection of short fiction belongs on the bookshelf of every Daphne du Maurier fan.

From the Back Cover

The lost stories of Daphne du Maurier, collected in one volume for the first time.

Before she wrote Rebecca, the novel that would cement her reputation as a twentieth-century literary giant, a young Daphne du Maurier penned short fiction in which she explored the images, themes, and concerns that informed her later work. Originally published in periodicals during the early 1930s, many of these stories never found their way into print again . . . until now.

Tales of human frailty and obsession, and of romance gone tragically awry, the thirteen stories in The Doll showcase an exciting budding talent before she went on to write one of the most beloved novels of all time. In these pages, a waterlogged notebook washes ashore revealing a dark story of jealousy and obsession, a vicar coaches a young couple divided by class issues, and an older man falls perilously in love with a much younger woman--with each tale demonstrating du Maurier's extraordinary storytelling gifts and her deep understanding of human nature.

Review Quotes

"This collection of early stories, some originally published in a now out-of-print volume, vividly portrays with humor, candidness, and detail du Maurier's fascination with the problems of human connection, particularly when it comes to love." -- Publishers Weekly

"...delectably florid...." -- New York Times Book Review