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A review by callum_mclaughlin
Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier
5.0
What a delight. As with the two other du Maurier books I've read so far, I love that this completely defies being pigeonholed into any one genre, this time being equal parts an exciting adventure story, a charming story of kindred spirits falling in love (something I would never normally be drawn to) and beautifully written literary fiction, with touches of both humour and darkness woven into the mix as well.
As I've now come to expect from du Maurier, the way she sets the scene, vividly bringing the locations to life and creating an almost tangible atmosphere is second to none. Her descriptions of the landscape and the natural world are especially enchanting and transportive.
Protagonist, Dona, is a wonderful character. The way she refuses to adhere to society’s expectations is fantastic, as are her wit, her intelligence, her quickness to poke fun at and wind up the members of the aristocracy she finds so dull, and her banter with servant and trusted confidant, William.
As with her masterpiece, Rebecca, I really appreciated the layers present in the book. It can once again be read simply as a soaring and page-turning read, but upon closer inspection, there are lots of interesting ideas being cleverly and subtly touched upon. Throughout the story, du Maurier regularly challenges our pre-conceived ideas about certain characters, with no one ever acting quite as we expect them to; be it the thrill-seeking, sarcastic tom-boy Dona, the charming and sensitive Frenchman or the kindly, charismatic pirates who welcome Dona and treat her as one of their own.
It's also a fascinating commentary on the gender roles present at the time. Dona speaks of being jealous of her brothers as a child for the carefree ways they could play and explore, unlike her. Even as an adult, she iterates on several occasions that she wishes she were a man, for the freedom it would grant her to do the things she wants without judgement or resistance. It's also interesting to note that whenever she joins the crew of La Mouette, she is forced to disguise herself as male, and they refer to her as a ‘cabin boy’, meaning she literally has to sacrifice her gender in order to pursue her own desires and gain independence. This ultimately brings us to the central theme of the book, which for me was all about freedom vs. responsibility, and the sacrifices women are forced to make in becoming a wife and mother.
As I've now come to expect from du Maurier, the way she sets the scene, vividly bringing the locations to life and creating an almost tangible atmosphere is second to none. Her descriptions of the landscape and the natural world are especially enchanting and transportive.
Protagonist, Dona, is a wonderful character. The way she refuses to adhere to society’s expectations is fantastic, as are her wit, her intelligence, her quickness to poke fun at and wind up the members of the aristocracy she finds so dull, and her banter with servant and trusted confidant, William.
As with her masterpiece, Rebecca, I really appreciated the layers present in the book. It can once again be read simply as a soaring and page-turning read, but upon closer inspection, there are lots of interesting ideas being cleverly and subtly touched upon. Throughout the story, du Maurier regularly challenges our pre-conceived ideas about certain characters, with no one ever acting quite as we expect them to; be it the thrill-seeking, sarcastic tom-boy Dona, the charming and sensitive Frenchman or the kindly, charismatic pirates who welcome Dona and treat her as one of their own.
It's also a fascinating commentary on the gender roles present at the time. Dona speaks of being jealous of her brothers as a child for the carefree ways they could play and explore, unlike her. Even as an adult, she iterates on several occasions that she wishes she were a man, for the freedom it would grant her to do the things she wants without judgement or resistance. It's also interesting to note that whenever she joins the crew of La Mouette, she is forced to disguise herself as male, and they refer to her as a ‘cabin boy’, meaning she literally has to sacrifice her gender in order to pursue her own desires and gain independence. This ultimately brings us to the central theme of the book, which for me was all about freedom vs. responsibility, and the sacrifices women are forced to make in becoming a wife and mother.