Some time ago I admitted on twitter my sudden craving for a novel involving a love affair with a pirate (yeah, I know, just bear with me). I wanted to avoid the bodice-ripping thing, so after a bit of a search, lo and behold, I discovered that Daphne du Maurier had written one! What I felt about Frenchman’s Creek is best said quoting Carol in As Good As it Gets: “What I needed, he gave me great.”
I’ll give you a taste of the plot, although I should have had you at “Daphne du Maurier” and “pirate”.
The story is set in 17th century Cornwall, where Lady Dona St. Columb seeks refuge from London’s shallow high society. She takes her two children with her and leaves her meek husband behind. The plan is to lead the simple life, but everything changes when she realizes that the Manor, which should have been inhabited for many years, had recently (and secretly) housed a special guest.
This guest turns out to be a notorious pirate who has terrorized the Cornish coast. What Dona discovers not long after is that the pirate is not the roguish, evil-doer that everyone imagines, but an art-loving, cultured Frenchman, with his own particular kind of honor.
(He’s a pirate AND he’s French AND he quotes poetry AND he draws seagulls and stuff!)
The prose is beautiful and du Maurier is perfect at mixing the swashbuckling plot, the inner turmoil that Dona goes through and her growing connection with the Frenchman. Frenchman’s Creek was written while du Maurier was away from her husband during his military service in WW2. It makes perfect sense: it’s an author’s romantic fantasy, but the author is Daphne du Maurier, so the result is deep and well crafted. The ending is also different from what you’d expect from the books with a half-naked seafarer in the cover, but it was perfect for Frenchman’s Creek and no less swoon-inducing.
I’d also like to recommend the audio version masterfully read by John Castle.
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Other thoughts: Giraffe Days, A Striped Armchair, Devourer of Books, A lovely shore breeze…, Literate Housewife, Book Reviews by Bobbie, Bibliophile by the Sea, The Tome Traveller’s Weblog, The Book Nest, Books Ahoy!
14 comments
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February 6, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Miguel
“Some time ago I admitted on twitter my sudden craving for a novel involving a love affair with a pirate.”
I never have such original sudden cravings 😦
February 8, 2012 at 12:09 am
Alex
I don’t either, that’s why I have to promptly answer the few I do!
February 6, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Andi (Estella's Revenge)
“sudden craving for a novel involving a love affair with a pirate” made me LOL at work. People looked at me funny (though I’m OK with that). This is where I make a sad admission: I’ve never read Du Maurier!!! I KNOW! I will! I swear.
February 8, 2012 at 12:11 am
Alex
Have no idea where the craving came from, but it was STRONG!
Rebecca or this one is a good place to start imho.
May 27, 2012 at 11:39 am
Haricharan
The closest thing to the great American novel is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, my peosrnal favourite. They have made two films of it (Alan Ladd, then Robert Redford as Gatsby), both of which missed the mark. I understand a new version with Leonard DiCaprio is in work. Fitzgerald at his best writes poetic prose to raise goose bumps on your skin. It is a must read and a book for the ages.
February 6, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Helen
You definitely had me at “Daphne du Maurier” and “pirate”! I love du Maurier but haven’t read this one yet and am really looking forward to it.
February 8, 2012 at 12:11 am
Alex
You’re my kind of gal 🙂 Let me know how you got along.
February 6, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Amy
I can’t wait to read this one. I’ve had it on my list for months, and with a French pirate quoting poetry, I have now got to read it! Here’s to hoping the library doesn’t fail me.
February 8, 2012 at 12:12 am
Alex
du Maurier was really trying to tick all the boxes!
February 6, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Sam (Tiny Library)
I didn’t Daphne Du Maurier did pirates – now I’m interested 🙂
February 8, 2012 at 12:12 am
Alex
It was a good surprise for me to – well worth it.
February 6, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Audra (Unabridged Chick)
You absolutely had me at “Daphne du Maurier” and “pirate” — I need this book immediately.
February 8, 2012 at 12:13 am
Alex
Again: Audra, you’re my kind of gal if that was enough 🙂
February 17, 2012 at 7:25 pm
savidgereads
Ooooh a Du Maurier that I havent read but that, despite the ship conotations with pirates, sounds like it could be a gooden. Well, if its by Daphers then of course it will be a gooden. I have been umming and ahhhing which of hers I should read next, it might just be this one.