Rebecca is Daphne Du Maurier’s most remembered and revered legacy. Melancholy yet haunting, forever immortalized in Hitchcock’s famous adaptation. The House on the Strand is not even close to her other famous works and is one of her later novels.
If you ever want to read anything by Maurier, then Rebecca it must be. However, a great second novel to dive into by De Maurier would The House on the Stand especially if you are a fan of historical science fiction. This is probably the original time-travel Outlander novel.
The Plot
Cornwall, UK (Photo credit: @remi_Crib on unsplash.com)
Magnus Lane, a slightly eccentric biophysicist, offers the use of his country home, Kilmarth for the summer to his friend Richard Young. Richard arrives early to set things in order and that is where our story begins. Magnus is working on a new experimental drug and he persuades his friend to take it, before his family shows up,
Well, Richard takes the prescribed dose and is transported back to 14th century England. Gone is the country mansion and in place stands a much humbler dwelling. Half the village has also disappeared, replaced by the river and expansive green fields.
‘The first thing I noticed was the clarity of the air, and then the sharp green colour of the land’ – Richard Young
Maurier drags Richard and the reader into the lives and stories of people who lived and breathed six hundred years ago. Roger Kylmerth, steward to Sir Henry Champeroune, is the connecting link to Richard. It is through his eyes that Richard observes the lives of the lords of Cornwall; Sir Henry, Sir Oliver Carminowe, Lady Isolda Carminowe, Sir William Ferrers and others.
The story is not just about Richard’s journey into the past. It’s also about how it effects his present life. Richard is so infatuated by Lady Isolda that he must know what is her fate is. He keeps on taking this drug-induced trips in the past, ignoring the increasing manifestation of side effects
Things nearly come to pass when Magnus who has been self-administrating the drug walks into a moving train under its influence. But Richard must go back. Isolda is trapped by her husband and is plotting to escape under Roger’s protection – he must know what happens to her. Richard takes one more trip, and this proves to be his undoing.
Review
Maurier explores several themes in the book – friendship, loyalty, homosexuality, drug abuse.Two elements really made the book gripping – the parallel story line of England of the Middle Ages and Richard’s discovery of the truth behind the events that happened in his life.
Maurier is a master of mood-setting and her vivid description of Cornwall terrain add to the story and really makes one feel that they are part of the narrative.
I won’t lie, I often found myself found wandering the fields of fourteenth century England.
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7 comments
I’ve read a few books by DDM, and like you I am always a little apprehensive knowing they are not likely to surpass what she managed to do in Rebecca. I’ve enjoyed her other books, but Rebecca remains my favorite. This is one I haven’t read yet, but now I will have to go and dig out my copy! I’ve never been to Cornwall but I expect I would love it there, and am always interested in books set there (she’s a good person to read for that fact alone). I like the idea of time travel, too, especially when it’s well done!
I’ve read Rebecca and its sequel which is equally haunting. But the rest of DDM’s books seemed to have an air of tragedy about them.
When you mentioned drugs here though, it got me wondering if it was a drug meant to induce hallucinations. I mean its impossible to time travel standing at a point in space 🙂
As for Cornwall, most British authors I’ve come across seem to base their stories in Cornwall.
Danielle – welcome to our blog! In ” The House on the Strand” time travel is all without the sci-fi jargon which is really refreshing. And ofcourse all the feudal drama is really gripping. Its a good weekend read!
Zoya – I believe the sequel is by Susan Hill. I have not read any other DDM so cant say if agree with you on that. Yes it has been implied that the drug was hallucinogenic but it does not why explain whatever Richard saw were facts of the past
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. It’s one of my favourite DdMs, partly because the plot is really quite original. Once I’d started I couldn’t stop reading.
Cath – I would say that “Rebecca” is still my all time favorite but yes “The House on Strand” is very original in its concept. I am now wondering which DdM to try next – any suggestions?
I think Frenchman’s Creek is my all time favourite DdM, although I haven’t read it in years. Jamaica Inn is also good. There’s also a lovely autobiographical book by her called Myself When Young, which is an absolute gem.
Cath – I have been planning to read Myself when Young – I think thats going to be my next buy. I will also try out Frenchman’s Creek