Daphne du Maurier
Born 1907 · Age 118
English novelist, biographer and playwright, best known for Rebecca and many novels and short stories set largely in Cornwall; several works adapted for major films.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born at 24 Cumberland Terrace, Regent's Park, London
Born Daphne du Maurier, middle of three daughters of Sir Gerald du Maurier and Muriel Beaumont.
Childhood residence Cannon Hall, Hampstead
Spent much of her childhood at Cannon Hall in Hampstead and summers in Fowey, Cornwall.
Met prominent theatre figures as a child (Tallulah Bankhead anecdote)
Due to her father's celebrity she met many notable actors; famously described Tallulah Bankhead as 'the most beautiful creature' she had seen.
Published first novel, The Loving Spirit
First novel launched her literary career.
Published The Loving Spirit – start of prolific career
First novel; established a career that would span six decades with 17 novels, plays and many short stories.
Married Major Frederick 'Boy' Browning
Married Frederick Browning (later Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Browning) and thereafter legally Lady Browning though she continued writing as Daphne du Maurier.
Birth of first child, Tessa
Daughter Tessa born; later married Major Peter Paul John de Zulueta.
Published Gerald: A Portrait (biography of her father)
A candid biography of her father which helped raise her profile as a writer.
Published Jamaica Inn
One of her early successful novels, set in Cornwall.
Spent most of 1936 in Alexandria with family (affects output/reading claims)
Some claims that she worked as a reader in 1936 are disputed because she and her family spent most of the year in Alexandria, Egypt.
Published The du Mauriers (family history/semifictional)
A semifictional account tracing family history.
Accusations of plagiarism regarding Rebecca (Brazil/Carolina Nabuco)
Soon after Rebecca's publication in Brazil, similarities to Carolina Nabuco's 1934 novel A Sucessora were noted; du Maurier and publisher denied copying. Dispute remained unresolved publicly.
Published Rebecca (novel)
Published Rebecca, which became her most successful work and enduring classic.
Rebecca sales milestone: nearly 3 million copies (1938–1965)
Rebecca sold nearly 3 million copies between publication and 1965 and never went out of print.
Won U.S. National Book Award (favourite novel of 1938)
In the U.S., Rebecca was voted the American Booksellers Association's favourite novel of 1938.
Alfred Hitchcock film Rebecca released
Hitchcock's film adaptation of Rebecca (1940) became one of the author's most famous screen versions.
Stage adaptation of Rebecca opened at Queen's Theatre (London)
Adaptation opened 5 March 1940 starring Celia Johnson and Owen Nares; ran 181 performances then transferred to the Strand Theatre for another 176 performances.
Published Frenchman's Creek
Published another Cornwall-based novel, later adapted for screen.
Published Hungry Hill
Novel set partly in Ireland; part of her growing body of successful fiction.
Leased and restored Menabilly, Fowey, Cornwall
Leased the historic Menabilly house in 1943, restored it from neglect and made it her home until 1969.
Play The Years Between first staged (Manchester Opera House)
Autobiographically inspired drama staged in Manchester in 1944 before West End transfer.
The Years Between opened in London at Wyndham's Theatre
Opened 10 January 1945, starred Nora Swinburne and Clive Brook; long-running hit completing 617 performances.
Husband Frederick Browning knighted; she became Lady Browning
After her husband's knighthood in 1946 she was legally Lady Browning, though she rarely used the title.
Published The King's General
Historic novel set in Cornwall during the English Civil War.
Du Maurier's play September Tide starred Gertrude Lawrence
September Tide opened 15 Dec 1948, starred Gertrude Lawrence; the friendship/future disputed relationship with Lawrence began in 1948 when Lawrence accepted the lead role.
Play September Tide opened at Aldwych Theatre
Opened 15 December 1948 with Gertrude Lawrence; closed August 1949 after 267 performances.
Published My Cousin Rachel
Novel later adapted to film (1952 and 2017).
Published short story "The Birds" (in The Apple Tree collection)
"The Birds" published (1952) and later became the basis for Hitchcock's 1963 film.
Published The Scapegoat
Novel later adapted into a film; du Maurier partly financed the film version and later regretted casting choices.
Film adaptation of The Scapegoat (approx.) - she partly financed
Du Maurier partly financed the film adaptation of The Scapegoat and later regretted the casting of Alec Guinness.
Frank Baker considered litigation over The Birds/Hitchcock film
Author Frank Baker noted similarities between his 1936 novel The Birds and du Maurier's short story; considered litigation against Universal when Hitchcock's film was released, but legal counsel advised against it.
Published The Glass-Blowers
A multi-generational family history tracing French Huguenot ancestry.
Film The Birds released (based on her short story)
Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963) was based on du Maurier's short story; du Maurier had mixed feelings about film adaptations.
Death of husband Lt.-Gen. Sir Frederick Browning
Her husband died in 1965; she soon moved from Menabilly to Kilmarth near Par.
Moved to Kilmarth, near Par, Cornwall
Moved to Kilmarth after husband's death; Kilmarth later became setting for The House on the Strand.
Published Vanishing Cornwall (non-fiction)
A travel/photographic book including photos by her son Christian.
Published The House on the Strand
Novel combining 'mental time-travel', 14th-century love affair, and mind-altering drugs; set near her home in Cornwall.
Made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Awarded DBE in 1969 (London Gazette supplement dated 6 June 1969); she was titled Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning but rarely used it.
Daughter Tessa remarried (to David Montgomery) – family events
Family marriages and divorces noted (text references daughters' later marriages); included as influential personal milestones across decades.
Published Not After Midnight / Don't Look Now (short fiction)
Collection published as Not After Midnight (UK) and Don't Look Now (US); title story later adapted into Nicolas Roeg's film (1973).
Published final novel Rule Britannia
Her last novel, about an ageing actress; biographer Margaret Forster considered it her poorest novel.
Film Don't Look Now released (based on her story)
Nicolas Roeg's film adaptation of 'Don't Look Now' (from her Not After Midnight/Don't Look Now collection) released to acclaim; du Maurier approved of it.
Published autobiography Growing Pains (aka Myself When Young)
Autobiography reflecting on her life and formation as a writer.
Appeared on BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs
Broadcast 3 Sept 1977; chosen book The Collected Works of Jane Austen and luxury whisky and ginger ale.
Published The Rendezvous and Other Stories
Short story collection published late in her career.
Published The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories
Literary reminiscence and memories including material regarding Rebecca.
Died at home in Par, Cornwall (heart failure)
Died in her sleep on 19 April 1989 aged 81; body cremated privately and ashes scattered off cliffs around Kilmarth and Menabilly.
Featured on British 'Women of Achievement' postage stamps
Posthumously honoured as one of five 'Women of Achievement' on Royal Mail stamps (August 1996).
Public controversy over Rebecca plagiarism allegations revisited (NYT article)
Larry Rohter's 2002 New York Times article revisited early claims that Rebecca resembled Carolina Nabuco's 1934 novel A Sucessora, a dispute first raised in Brazil soon after Rebecca's publication.
BBC Two film 'Daphne' aired about du Maurier's life and alleged relationships
TV film (2007) explored du Maurier's life and alleged intimate relationships after her death; led to renewed public discussion.
Discovery and publication of early lost short stories (The Doll: The Lost Short Stories)
Collection of forgotten early short stories written when du Maurier was 21 was discovered and published in 2011.
Blue plaque mounted on Cannon Cottage, Hampstead
After earlier controversy and a denial in 2008, a plaque commemorating du Maurier was placed on Cannon Cottage in Well Street, Hampstead in 2011.
Grandson Ned Browning launched du Maurier Watches
Posthumous commercial homage: a collection of men's and women's watches inspired by characters from Rebecca.
Cultural influence: du Maurier appears as a character in contemporary fiction
Featured as a character in works such as The House at the End of Hope Street (2014) and in short fiction, indicating ongoing cultural influence.
Key Achievement Ages
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