Sunday 11 October 2009

A brief return to Manderley



Ann Willmore's comment on my previous post has prompted me to leave Coco, just for a few minutes, and return to Daphne du Maurier, if only for a little while. Regular readers of the blog will know that Ann and her husband David run two wonderful bookshops in Fowey, as well as knowing more about Daphne du Maurier than practically anyone else in the world. Anyway, here is the link to the Du Maurier website, which contains all sorts of interesting and intriguing treasures (rather like Ann's bookshelves...), including this comment from Kits Browning, Daphne's son.

14 comments:

jaywalker said...

Thanks for the website. It's very comprehensive. I have the sepia photo of Daphne on your blog framed on my study wall and walk past it every day. Also the one of her in trousers in her study. Although we live in far away Tasmania my partner's cousin lives in Polruan and we have visited the Fowey bookshop twice which is where I bought my photos.

Justine Picardie said...

Daphne goes to Tasmania! I like to think she would have very much enjoyed that.

Anonymous said...

Hi Justine - must be strange to return to Manderley again after foxtrotting around the world of Rue Cambon. Am very excited about your new book, have posted about it today fyi. Hope life finds you blooming.

I love that pic of Daphne too, it is very Bloomsbury set, but even more rebellious in some ways...

Karen, Surrey said...

Thanks Justine, I am going to check these sites out before our trip to Cornwall at Half Term. We always go to Fowey when we're down there and I will definitely go in. I am still trying to plough through Jane Eyre but family commitments etc don't lend to much reading time at the moment. It might get finished on the Cornwall holiday.

Justine Picardie said...

Gondal Girl: thanks for posting about Coco -- am deep in her world, and barely sticking my head up for air. But a trip to Cornwall for half-term sounds perfect. Karen, please do say hello to Ann and David at Bookends, and don't forget to eat some Cornish pasties at the bakers down the street from them. Good fudge shop across the road, too -- and fantastic fish and chips at Sam's.

Blue Floppy Hat said...

It's funny how compelling Coco still is, the better part of a hundred years after creating her business in her own image...and I do think she'd have been just so even if the House of Chanel wasn't still up and running.

Can I distract you further with a spot of historical fantasy? (only if you're so inclined, of course). Do try the Temeraire series, by Naomi Novik, if you ever feel in need of anything vaguely resembling the Napoleonic wars, but with dragons. People tend to look askance at me when I mention the dragons, but part of me thinks anyone who loves books involving animals, should read these.

(I realise I'm being a bore, but I found them by accident last month and tore through the first three books in the series in as many days, it's hard not to be excited)

GlassCurls said...

I've been meaning to go to this website ever since Ann told me about it in July - time flies!
I concur with your thoughts on Sam's Justine - Sam's on the beach is even better, it has the added bonus of being in Polkeriss, and therefore even closer to Daphne - Menabilly is very nearby. I think Dad drove past the gatehouse when we were there.

Also - thanks for the book tip Blue Floppy Hat - I saw the first one recently and was very tempted!

Justine Picardie said...

I love the walk from Polkerris along the coastline to Pridmouth Bay, by the Menabilly woods. Next time, I'll start at Menabilly Barton, walk to Polkerris, eat delicious fish and chips at Sam's, thereby fortified before the return journey.
As for dragons: thanks for the tip. I am interested in all winged creatures, so will look out for these in the future (that distant place beyond Chanel).

Anonymous said...
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Bookends of Fowey said...

Justine, thank you for stepping back into du Maurier world this week. I must say I am so looking forward to stepping into your new world of Coco Chanel soon. I have had your book on pre-order at David shop from the moment it appeared in his wholesalers listings and I understand it will be published very soon now. I can’t wait. Also now that the du Maurier festival is thankfully confirmed for another year I hope you will be joining us in Fowey, in May to talk to us about Coco…

enid said...

Justine I will be in London from 2 - 22 November. Will you be giving a talk during that time ? Please let me know thanks.

JaneGS said...

Two comments--first it was a pleasure to see you return to Manderley today as I have been reading DDM short stories lately and just read The Breakthrough for the first time earlier this week.

Second, the Kits quote link doesn't seem to be working. As a woman I assume I must have messed up somehow when I clicked the link :), but thought I would mention it in case it truly is broken.

Justine Picardie said...

Link is almost certainly due to my technical incompetence. But his quote is there on the website, if you search for it!
Enid, I don't think I'm doing any talks in November, but will double check...

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