Rebecca

Now a Netflix film starring Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas.

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

With these unforgettable words, readers are drawn into the shadowy world of Manderley, an isolated estate on the windswept Cornish coast. The young and unnamed heroine, newly married to the reserved widower Maxim de Winter, struggles to find her place in a grand house dominated by the memory of his first wife, Rebecca.

Rebecca's presence lingers everywhere, fiercely preserved by the unsettling housekeeper Mrs Danvers. As the new Mrs de Winter moves deeper into the mansion and her marriage, she begins to sense that the truth behind Rebecca's life and death is far darker than anyone admits. What follows is a masterful exploration of jealousy, power, identity, and psychological suspense.

This special edition includes material from Daphne du Maurier's notebooks, an essay on the real inspiration for Manderley, and the author's original epilogue.

1. How does the heroine's lack of a first name affect your perception of her character and identity?

2. How would you describe the heroine at the beginning of the novel? How does she change by the end?

3. What draws Maxim de Winter to the heroine, and what complicates their relationship?

4. How does du Maurier use atmosphere and setting to create suspense at Manderley?

5. What role does Mrs Danvers play in maintaining Rebecca's presence within the house?

6. How is Rebecca described through the memories and perceptions of others? How does this shape the heroine's fears?

7. Did your feelings toward Maxim change after the truth about Rebecca is revealed? Why or why not?

8. What does the costume ball symbolize in the novel?

9. How does power operate in the relationships between characters throughout the story?

10. How do you interpret the destruction of Manderley at the end of the novel?

11. Is Rebecca ultimately a victim, a villain, or something more complex?

12. How does the novel explore themes of memory, obsession, and identity?

13. In what ways does Rebecca challenge traditional ideas about love and marriage?

14. Why do you think Rebecca continues to resonate with modern readers and book clubs?