Tatiana de Rosnay is the author of 10 contemporary novels, including A Paris Affair and The Other Story, whose themes often deal with the dark underpinnings of love, romance and secrets. In Manderley Forever, she explores the life of Daphne du Maurier, who made an indelible impression on de Rosnay from the time she was 11 years old, when she read Rebecca, du Maurier's most popular novel. Published in 1938, Rebecca is psychological suspense about secrets, old flames, jealousy and the looming manor Manderley. Like her subject, de Rosnay hails from a British and French bloodline, a factor that contributed to her fascination with du Maurier and ignited her quest to write a comprehensive biography and uncover the secrets of du Maurier's life, work and inspirations.
Du Maurier was a shy, observant, sensitive child who was largely shaped by patriarchal influences, as well as her two, equally creative sisters, an often aloof mother who was chronically neglected by her wandering, limelight-seeking husband. Du Maurier would later fall in love and marry Major Thomas Browning, 10 years her senior. The demands of his decorated military career--along with the pressures of marriage, motherhood and war--posed significant challenges to her freedom, aspects of which were often reflected in her work, which included dark, gothic romances as well as biographies.
The narrative is distinguished by de Rosnay's esteem and empathy. This deep and thoroughly researched biography offers riveting drama while presenting compelling reasons as to why du Maurier--whom many claimed was funny and cheerful--produced such a gloomy oeuvre, beloved by legions of fans but often scorned by the critics. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines