My Cousin Rachel
Encyclopedia
My Cousin Rachel is a novel
by British
author Daphne du Maurier
, published in 1951. Like the earlier Rebecca
, it is a mystery
-romance
, largely set on a large estate in Cornwall
.
estate. While travelling in Italy
for his health, Ambrose falls in love with and marries Rachel, a distant cousin and penniless widow of an Italian count
. Just months after their marriage, Ambrose falls ill and dies, leaving Philip to inherit the estate.
Rachel returns to England, and Philip is subjected to contradictory forces: he falls in love with her, but at the same time evidence grows that Rachel might be funneling money to Italy and that Ambrose died under suspicious circumstances. Philip's infatuation leads him continually to make excuses for her behavior, and indeed the author leaves the reader to decide between Rachel's character and Philip's delusions. After he impetuously settles the estate on her and proposes marriage, she grows cold to him. He suffers an illness similar to that of Ambrose and discovers poisonous seeds in her desk drawer. In a sudden and dramatic end, Rachel walks alone on a bridge that Philip failed to warn her was incomplete, and falls to her death. She dies in Philip's arms, calling him Ambrose. It gives us an insight into the most pernicious quality of the human mind; jealousy
.
The book's title reflects Philip's consistent references to Rachel as "my cousin Rachel" right up to the moment he realizes he is in love with her.
A film My Cousin Rachel
, starring Richard Burton
and Olivia de Havilland
was made in 1952, and a television adaptation, starring Christopher Guard
and Geraldine Chaplin
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
, published in 1951. Like the earlier Rebecca
Rebecca (novel)
Rebecca is a novel by Daphne du Maurier. When Rebecca was published in 1938, du Maurier became – to her great surprise – one of the most popular authors of the day. Rebecca is considered to be one of her best works...
, it is a mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
-romance
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
, largely set on a large estate in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Plot overview
The basis of the novel is the tension set up in its young protagonist when Philip falls in love with his cousin, while uncovering, and trying to deny, evidence that she is pretending to care for him while she has only her own interests at heart.Plot summary
Philip Ashley, the protagonist, has been brought up by his cousin Ambrose, to whom he is devoted, on Ambrose's CornishCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
estate. While travelling in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for his health, Ambrose falls in love with and marries Rachel, a distant cousin and penniless widow of an Italian count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
. Just months after their marriage, Ambrose falls ill and dies, leaving Philip to inherit the estate.
Rachel returns to England, and Philip is subjected to contradictory forces: he falls in love with her, but at the same time evidence grows that Rachel might be funneling money to Italy and that Ambrose died under suspicious circumstances. Philip's infatuation leads him continually to make excuses for her behavior, and indeed the author leaves the reader to decide between Rachel's character and Philip's delusions. After he impetuously settles the estate on her and proposes marriage, she grows cold to him. He suffers an illness similar to that of Ambrose and discovers poisonous seeds in her desk drawer. In a sudden and dramatic end, Rachel walks alone on a bridge that Philip failed to warn her was incomplete, and falls to her death. She dies in Philip's arms, calling him Ambrose. It gives us an insight into the most pernicious quality of the human mind; jealousy
Jealousy
Jealousy is a second emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions...
.
The book's title reflects Philip's consistent references to Rachel as "my cousin Rachel" right up to the moment he realizes he is in love with her.
A film My Cousin Rachel
My Cousin Rachel (movie)
My Cousin Rachel is a 1952 mystery-romance film directed by Henry Koster and starred Olivia de Havilland, Richard Burton, Audrey Dalton, Ronald Squire, George Dolenz and John Sutton...
, starring Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
and Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
was made in 1952, and a television adaptation, starring Christopher Guard
Christopher Guard
Christopher Guard is an English actor.Educated at Latymer Upper School, Guard was a member of the National Theatre aged 20. He has appeared in Vienna 1900 , Memoirs of a Survivor and Return to Treasure Island...
and Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Leigh Chaplin is an English-American actress and the daughter of Charlie Chaplin.Chaplin first came to prominence for her Golden Globe-nominated role of Tonya in David Lean's Doctor Zhivago . She received her second Golden Globe nomination for Robert Altman's Nashville...
.