Date of Birth: May 13, 1907
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Date of Death: April 19, 1989
Biography
Daphne du Maurier was a renowned British novelist and playwright, best known for her works of gothic fiction. Born into a prominent artistic family, she was the daughter of actor Gerald du Maurier and granddaughter of author George du Maurier. Her literary career took off with the publication of “Jamaica Inn” in 1936, but it was her novel “Rebecca” (1938) that secured her reputation as a master storyteller. The novel was a bestseller and has since been adapted into numerous films, television series, and even a stage play. Throughout her life, du Maurier wrote several other significant works, including “My Cousin Rachel” and “The Birds,” the latter of which inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film. Despite her literary success, du Maurier was known for her reclusive nature, preferring the quiet life of her home in Cornwall, where many of her stories are set. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1969 for her contributions to literature.
5 Interesting Facts about Daphne du Maurier
1. Daphne du Maurier’s novel “Rebecca” has never been out of print since its publication in 1938.
2. She served as the president of the prestigious Society of Authors from 1971 to 1972.
3. Du Maurier’s father, Gerald du Maurier, was a famous actor and manager who significantly influenced her early life.
4. She had a lifelong fascination with the supernatural and often explored themes of identity and duality in her works.
5. Her home in Cornwall, Menabilly, served as the inspiration for Manderley, the grand estate in “Rebecca.”
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Daphne du Maurier
1. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”
2. “Women want love to be a novel, men a short story.”
3. “Writers should be read but not seen. Rarely are they a winsome sight.”
4. “Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.”
5. “I am a being of heaven and earth, of thunder and lightning, of rain and wind, of the galaxies.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Daphne du Maurier’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $10 million at the peak of her career.
Children
Daphne du Maurier had three children: Tessa, Flavia, and Christian (Kits) Browning.
Relevant Links
1. [Daphne du Maurier – Biography](https://www.biography.com/writer/daphne-du-maurier
2. [Daphne du Maurier – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_du_Maurier
3. [Daphne du Maurier – Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19343.Daphne_du_Maurier
