Rebec a by Daphne du Laurier - help me understand the ending

[joshandjamie]

spoiler alert

So I've just finished reading this book and loved it but was left confused by the ending. Who was supposed to have set manderlay on fire? Was it mrs Danvers? I was left feeling eh? What? Help!

[BitOfFun]

Yes, it was Mrs Danvers.

[Hassled]

Oh I love this book. Must reread it.

Yes, Evil Mrs D.

[CarrieOakey]

My favourite book ever! Must re read it.

[joshandjamie]

Don't know why, I still expected a different twist. But I loved her writing. Feel all bereft now that it's finished

[fivegomadindorset]

Read The HOuse on the Strand, it is a really good book.

[joshandjamie]

I have just read my title and noticed all the errors. Stupid ipad

[Lightshines]

yes, the reader is led to believe that Mrs Danvers set the house on fire
Susan Hill has written this - Mrs De Winter but it has had mixed reviews so you may not be keen!

[valiumredhead]

Read My Cousin Rachel! I second HOTS - very good!

[valiumredhead]

Rebecca is my favourite book, my dad read it to me when I was little - he heavily edited it to make it more appealing to a child of 8. I LOVE it and every time I read it I discover something new it that I missed before .

[DioneTheDiabolist]

The evil, but brilliant Danvers started the blaze to ensure the 2nd Mrs DeWinter would never get her paws on it.

[valiumredhead]

Have you seen the black and white film OP? Worth watching!

[nothingnatural]

I utterly LOVED that book. Loads of interesting sexual politics going on, great for talking about. The film is great too, I agree valiumredhead, yummy Olivier as gorge Max De Winter.

Did you watch Downton Abbey? The Dutchess' ladies maid in that draws heavily on Mrs Danvers.

[Lightshines]

its also interesting to look at the parallels between 'Jane Eyre' and 'Rebecca'...

[BathildaSaggshot]

"Last night I dreamt I was at Manderley again"..............
I loved Rebecca. Not sure I was that keen on 'Mrs De Winter' though. It was a bit naff!

[Lightshines]

BathildaSaggshot - I have 'Mrs De Winter' sitting on my shelf but never read it, so was not in a position to recommend or otherwise.
Sally Beauman has written a prequel to 'Rebecca' called Rebecca's Tale which I did not particularly enjoy.
Margaret Forsters Biography of Daphne du Maurier is excellent, but even better is Justine Picardie's Daphne, a fictionalised account of the time in Daphne's life when she herself was writing a biography of Bramwell Bronte.

[valiumredhead]

The biography is fantastic - really interesting.

[smartyparts]

Rebecca is possibly my favourite book.

And I have the Margaret Forster and the Justine Picardie books.

I also love the old b&w film, just perfect!

[valiumredhead]

That bedroom - with the huge windows - overlooking the sea........... sigh......

[Nefret]

I love Rebecca too, and the old film is great too. I have read Mrs De Winter, which is ok but nowhere near as good as the original.

I have read quite a few of her books. Frenchman's Creek is one of may favourites.

[KayleighPuff]

Valiumredhead (and other posters) are right: the film is superbe! Yes, we are to believe it was Mrs D. who started the fire. Brings to mind the ending of Jane Eyre, and a fantastic take on that story. Jean Rhys, The Wide Sargasso Sea. It's the novel, Jane Eyre, told from the point-of-view of the 'mad woman in the attic' - Rochester's first wife. Read it!

[cheapskatemum]

Nothingnatural - I thought that too about the ladies' maid in "Downton Abbey" being like Danvers.

[WorrisomeHeart]

Jamaica Inn is another great one, although I think My Cousin Rachel is her best, even [whispers] better than Rebecca!

[CrystalQueen]

In the film he didn't kill her, she fell and hit her head. Guess they couldn't have a murderer getting away with it in those days.