If, like me, you are a huge fan of Daphne du Murier's Rebecca, you will love the opportunity afforded by Sally Beauman's Rebecca's Tale to get another glimpse of Rebecca, Manderley, Maxim, Mrs.Danvers, Maxim's mousy little new wife, et. al. If, on the other hand, you are not familiar with the original work, you will no doubt find Rebecca's Tale difficult to follow.

How interesting it is to those of us who loved Rebecca (the book, not the woman), to learn more details of her background and that of Maxim, of Jack Favel, of Mrs. Danvers, of Colonel Julyan and of Manderley itself. How fascinating to learn the history of the de Winter family in a scope and depth not provided in the original.

In the original novel by du Murier, Rebecca's powerful persona permeates Manderley months after her death, creating an impossible situation for the new Mrs. de Winter. In competition with her husband's dead wife, she is hopelessly outmatched in every area except that of moral character. In the end, it is this strong sense of morality, not legality, that enables the young wife to come to terms with Rebecca's legacy. This triumph is explored in great detail in Rebecca's Tale, and it is interesting and somehow satisfying to see Maxim's ingenue wife finally understand her own strengths later in life.

As Rebecca's Tale unfolds,Beauman reveals the reason behind Rebecca's hatred toward men: she was raped as a child. This hatred is further fueled by Maxim's callous reaction to Rebecca's confession of her childhood violation. From that moment on, Rebecca's contempt for men finds its expression in her sexual depravity. She makes it clear to each man with whom she has a liason that it will happen only one time; clearly she wants to leave no opportunity for emotional attachment. She carefully selects her lovers, making sure they resemble her husband so that any possible offspring from the numerous one-night stands can easily be passed off as Maxim's child, thereby standing to inherit Manderley. Manderley is, after all, the reason that Rebecca married Maxim; she adores the estate from the moment she first sees it.

Rebecca's Tale also introduces us to some new characters, not present in the original novel. Terence Gray is an interesting young man whose fascination with Rebecca many years after her death is difficult at first for the reader to understand. As the novel progresses, however, Beauman skillfully reveals the reason behind Gray's obsession, creating an interesting twist not even he could see coming. Another new character is Ellie, Colonel Julyan's devoted daughter. Although at first she appears to play a minor role in the story, later in the novel we come to realize her importance. In addition, she is part of an interesting subplot that provides a romantic distraction from the novel's sometimes overwhelming exploration of every aspect of the woman who was Rebecca de Winter.

One of the most satisfying aspects of Rebecca's Tale is the author's ability to evoke the ambiance of Manderley. Once again we visit the great estate, the fateful boathouse that provided the backdrop for Rebecca's death in du Murier's novel, the woods, the cliffs, and the sea. Once again we read of Rebecca's sailboat, Je Reviens, so aptly named. We are even treated to another glimpse of Jasper, the faithful dog who inadvertently led the new Mrs. de Winter to the boathouse in the orginal story.

Quite unexpectedly, the odd Mrs. Danvers reappears in Beauman's novel, seeming even stranger and creepier in her dotage. Still obsessed with Rebecca, she somehow has survived the fire that destroyed Manderley and now exists in a permanent state of delusion, hoping to be reunited with the object of her affection.

A fairly minor character in du Murier's novel, Colonel Julyan is examined in depth in this sequel. Possibly the one man for whom Rebecca felt genuine affection, we discover that this childhood friend of Maxim's was in love with Maxim's wife. His view of Rebecca is probably the most favorable of all; unfortunately, it is based more on fantasy and wishful thinking than on reality.

Interestingly, Beauman's novel begins exactly as the original du Murier novel opens: "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." This time the narrator is not the young wife but Colonel Julyan. By opening her book with this familiar line, Beauman immediately begins infusing her story with the essence of Rebecca. Remarkably, this atmosphere is sustained throughout the four hundred plus pages of Rebecca's Tale.

Again, if you have never read Rebecca, you may find Rebecca's Tale confusing and at times obscure. Indeed, those of us who thought we were intimately acquainted with the original novel will likely feel compelled to revisit Rebecca to gain a better understanding and appreciation for its sequel.


Recommended: Yes