Title: The Birds: Short Stories
Author: Daphne du Maurier
First published January 1, 1952
248 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780349006666 (ISBN10: 0349006660)
Rating: 4.05
Overview
Daphne du Maurier’s The Birds: Short Stories is a haunting collection that delves into the unsettling relationship between humanity and nature. The eponymous story, made famous by Hitchcock’s film adaptation, is just one of six eerie tales that explore man’s tenuous grip on the world around him.
From a mountain retreat that offers eternal life at a terrible cost, to a husband haunted by his wife in the form of an apple tree, each story will leave you questioning the boundaries between the natural and supernatural. With vivid characters and a masterful use of suspense, du Maurier’s collection is a must-read for fans of horror and suspense.
About the Author
Daphne du Maurier, the middle daughter of actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and actress Muriel Beaumont, was born on May 13, 1907, in London. Her family had a rich artistic and historical background, with her paternal grandfather being the author and Punch cartoonist George du Maurier, who created the character of Svengali in the novel Trilby.
Her mother was a maternal niece of a journalist, author, and lecturer. Daphne and her sisters had a privileged childhood with financial and parental freedom.
Her elder sister also became a writer, and her younger sister was a painter.
Daphne spent her youth sailing boats, traveling with friends, and writing stories. Her family’s connections helped her establish her literary career, and she published some of her early work in Beaumont’s Bystander magazine.
Her first novel was accepted by a prestigious publishing house when she was in her early twenties, and it brought her fame and the attention of Major Frederick Browning, whom she married.
Daphne continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many of them were adapted into successful films, including Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and short stories The Birds and Don’t Look Now/Not After Midnight.
She enjoyed a fairy-tale life in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.
Daphne was obsessed with the past, intensively researching the lives of Francis and Anthony Bacon, the history of Cornwall, the Regency period, and nineteenth-century France and England. She chronicled her family history in Gerald: A Portrait, The du Mauriers, The Glassblowers, and Growing Pains, an autobiography focusing on her youth.
Daphne’s life and fiction were haunted by her family’s ghosts.
While contemporary writers dealt critically with subjects like war, alienation, religion, poverty, Marxism, psychology, and art, and experimented with new techniques, Daphne produced ‘old-fashioned’ novels with straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience’s love of fantasy, adventure, sexuality, and mystery. She recognized that her readership was primarily women and cultivated their loyalty through several decades by embodying their desires and dreams in her novels and short stories.
In some of her novels, Daphne went beyond the formulaic romance to achieve a powerful psychological realism reflecting her intense feelings about her father and, to a lesser degree, her mother. This vision, which underlies Julius, Rebecca, and The Parasites, is that of an author overwhelmed by the memory of her father’s commanding presence.
In Julius and The Parasites, she introduces the image of a domineering but deadly father and the daring subject of incest.
In Rebecca, Daphne fuses psychological realism with a sophisticated version of the Cinderella story. The nameless heroine has
Editoral Review
Daphne du Maurier’s “The Birds: Short Stories” is a collection of eerie and unsettling tales that explore the darker side of human nature. Du Maurier, best known for her gothic romance novel “Rebecca,” demonstrates her versatility as a writer by shifting genres and showcasing her mastery of the short story form.
The stories in this collection are loosely connected by the theme of birds and the havoc they wreak on human society. From a small English village to a remote Cornish farm, du Maurier paints vivid and atmospheric settings that serve as the backdrop for her characters’ struggles.
The characters themselves are varied and complex, ranging from a lonely spinster to a reckless playboy, each with their own motivations and fears.
One of the strengths of this collection is du Maurier’s ability to create suspense and tension. She builds up the anticipation slowly, drawing the reader into the story before unleashing a shocking twist or revelation.
This is particularly evident in “The Birds,” the titular story that inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film adaptation. Du Maurier’s description of the birds’ relentless attacks is both terrifying and mesmerizing, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat.
Another notable aspect of du Maurier’s writing is her exploration of gender dynamics and social hierarchies. In several of the stories, women are marginalized and oppressed by men, highlighting the power imbalances that exist in society.
However, du Maurier also subverts traditional gender roles, depicting women who are strong and independent, capable of standing up for themselves in the face of adversity.
That being said, there are some weaknesses in this collection. Some of the stories feel underdeveloped, lacking the depth and complexity of others.
Additionally, the thematic connection between the stories can feel tenuous at times, making the collection somewhat disjointed.
Despite these flaws, “The Birds: Short Stories” is a captivating and thought-provoking read. Du Maurier’s prose is elegant and evocative, transporting the reader to another time and place.
Fans of gothic and horror fiction will appreciate the eerie atmosphere and unsettling themes, while those interested in social commentary will find plenty to ponder in du Maurier’s exploration of power dynamics and gender roles.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and thought-provoking collection of short stories. While it may not appeal to everyone, those who appreciate du Maurier’s unique style and themes will find much to enjoy in “The Birds: Short Stories.” I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
