My Cousin Rachel

Daphne du Maurier's novel (1907-1989) «My Cousin Rachel» is, in the opinion of many critics, on par with the celebrated «Rebecca», and in some ways even surpasses it. This is a fine example of the development of the tradition of the «gothic» and «sensational» novel: a detective intrigue combines with an unusual love drama, unfolding against the backdrop of the lyrical landscapes of Cornwall and picturesque scenes of Italy in the 1940s of the 19th century. With each twist of the plot, the reader becomes increasingly lost in guesses as to who is before them — a victim of unjust suspicions or a calculating intriguer; but no matter which version they lean towards, the ending will be unexpected. Published in 1951, the novel instantly became a bestseller, and just a year later, a film of the same name starring Olivia de Havilland and a young Richard Burton hit the screens; in 1983, a television series based on the novel was produced. .