Thursday, September 15, 2011

Frenchman's Creek; Daphne DuMaurier

This was a Read-A-Long with Jo@ BiblioJunkie
(be sure to check out what Jo has to say about this one)

Title: Frenchman's Creek
Author: Daphne DuMaurier
Publication Year: (1941) (2009-my edition)
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Edition: trade softcover
Source: purchase
Location: Cornwall
Date Completed: 9/ 6 /2011 
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: yes

Frenchman's Creek is my third novel by Daphne DuMaurier, after Rebecca and Jamaica Inn. I loved both of those novels because of the dark and Gothic feel, not to mention the fabulous writing, and while the writing is beautiful in this novel as well, it almost felt like a blend of romance and fantasy to me.

 Lady Dona St Columb, is approaching her 30th birthday. An upper-class society lady in London, she's the mother of two young children, bored with high society life, and tired of her husband Harry's drinking and card playing.  Almost as an excuse to escape her present circumstances, she pulls a prank at a society function on an older woman, a Countess.  The following morning she summons her carriage and she flees, along with the two children to her husband's country home, Navron House, on Cornwall's countryside.  (a beginning which felt very much like Jamaica Inn, but it was not.)

Lady Dona, loves the home in the country even though all the servants are gone except for William. She loves her new freedom, likes to garden and she even doesn't mind getting dirty, and her walks along the sea give her plenty of alone time to reflect on her situation.  One day she see a  ship near a cove and soon discovers that it is a pirate ship, and probably the one that has been stealing from the local people in Cornwall.  She is drawn to this group of happy pirates, and especially one pirate in particular, the "Frenchman", Jean Benoit de Aubery. She joins them on one of their escapades, and soon is enamoured by what she's experienced -- the sense of adventure she was searching for. Will she find a new long term love in adventurous Jean Benoit, or will she return home with the children to her husband Harry?

As with DuMaurier's previous novels, this one is also very atmospheric. Both the weather and descriptiveness of place drew me in big time. There are so many beautiful passages about nature, adventure and love. At first I didn't care for Lady Dona as she seemed like a spoiled-society brat, but then suddenly I began to admire her boldness. She was a head-strong woman, not afraid of taking risks, who by taking chances discovered who she was and what was most important to her in life.  Not my favorite DuMaurier novel to date, but still a terrific historical novel that would be hard for most readers to enjoy at least on some levels.
Posted by at
Labels: ,

31 comments:

  1. serendipity_vivSeptember 15, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    I must read more Daphne. Just been told that Emily Barr's book is very similar to Rebecca.

    ReplyDelete
  2. TracySeptember 15, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    It sounds like it has elements from both Rebecca (the beautiful Cornish home, love of gardening, headstrong society woman) and Jamaica Inn entwined in this one. It's definitely going on my wishlist as I enjoyed both of those novels. (Plus I love reading about Cornwall, having lived there for seven years)

    ReplyDelete
  3. HarveeSeptember 15, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    This is one of my favorites of DuMaurier's books. I've read it at least twice! So romantic!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JoAnnSeptember 15, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    Like Viv, I need to read more Daphne, too! A couple on my wish list ahead of this one, but it does sound very good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. GirlsWannaReadSeptember 15, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    I love this book! I just recently re-read it for the umpteenth time!

    ReplyDelete
  6. KayeSeptember 15, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    Frenchman's Creek was a good read but Rebecca is still my all time fave of DuMaurier.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sweet Virginia BreezeSeptember 15, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    I need to read more of the classics. This sounds interesting so I may try it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. ZibileeSeptember 15, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    I have not ever read anything by this author, but you make this book sound great! I have also heard other wonderful things about Rebecca as well. I think that it's about time that I dig in and try something by DuMaurier, as I am starting to think I am really ill-read! Great review by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  9. kayerjSeptember 15, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    I loved this book--nice review.

    ReplyDelete
  10. KathleenSeptember 15, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    Rebecca is on my all time list of favorites so I am always open to reading another of her novels. I am amazed at how many more DuMaurier books I have become aware of this year. Stupidly I thought she had only written a few and now I have discovered that I have been missing many!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    I definitely want to read more from du Maurier. Thus far, I have only read Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beth(bookaholicmom)September 15, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    I have not read any books by Daphne DuMaurier but I did pick up a copy of Rebecca. I just need to be brave and jump into reading it. This book sounds very good as well. Another book for my some day list. Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  13. bermudaonionSeptember 15, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Until I started reading blogs, I thought duMaurier wrote romance. She's on my list of authors I want to try.

    ReplyDelete
  14. caiteSeptember 15, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    when I read this, it was my fav by the author...but then it was the first....lol
    but I still thought it was very good.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Laurel-Rain SnowSeptember 15, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    I loved this book when I read it many years ago...just as I loved Rebecca and Jamaica Inn.

    Of course I'm going to have to read all three of these again! Maybe I'll try to get them from the library, since my bookshelves are overflowing again!

    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Peppermint Ph.D.September 15, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Can you believe I haven't read Rebecca either?? So many classics that need me to read them ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. DeniseinVASeptember 15, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    I like the sound of this book, great review :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. RyanSeptember 15, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    I have Rebecca but haven't read it yet. Thanks for the reminder that I really am missing out on something.

    ReplyDelete
  19. StaciSeptember 15, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    I haven't even read one yet by this author!! I loved your thoughts on this one and I adore atmospheric books that's for sure!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. YvonneSeptember 15, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    I've never read DuMaurier's books, but I should.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AmusedSeptember 15, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    I've only ever read Rebecca but perhaps I need to branch out since I loved it so much!

    ReplyDelete
  22. TrishSeptember 16, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Hmm another DuMaurier to add to my list. She is fast becoming one of my favorites!

    ReplyDelete
  23. VeensSeptember 16, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    I have not read Rebecca even :( I have to really get to her books.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooksSeptember 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    I've only read Daphne DuMaurier's REBECCA, which I hope to re-read before picking up THE LANTERN (have you read this contemporary twist?).

    Thanks for the review of FRENCHMAN'S CREEK (more to be added to the wish list!)

    ReplyDelete
  25. KailanaSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    I really want to read this at some point. My library doesn't have it, so I am going to have to start buying her books soon...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Gwendolyn B.September 18, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    I know I read this years and years ago. I don't have much memory of it, though. I like the idea of a read-a-long. I think I need to hook up with one of those!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Aisle BSeptember 18, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    I absolutely love the cover! Your review makes my mouth water... going to hunt this one down - fingers crossed for same COVER ;)

    ReplyDelete
  28. DarleneSeptember 18, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    I read this one a while back and enjoyed it too. I have yet to read Rebecca though.

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousSeptember 18, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Thank you so much for the mention Diane. It's a coincidence that we are reading Du Maurier's books in similar order! I too started off not liking Dona that much but it is a great fantasy for her to be able to escape to such an exhilarating adventure and not feel like she is a cog on a wheel. Apologies for not checking your post earlier. I posted mine on early morning past midnight!

    I'm glad you like it and thank you so much for reading this with me!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Julie September 19, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    After reading Rebecca, I know that DuMaurier writes the way I like to read - I will definitely be picking up more of her work! Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Natalie~Coffee and a Book ChickSeptember 25, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    I have been falling in love with Daphne du Maurier this year ~ must add this story to the pile as well.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to visit and double thanks for any comments. If you ask a question in your comments, I will try to reply to it here, or by email if your settings allow me to do so. Thanks again for visiting.


Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)