Written by Teresa Knudsen. First published on Suite 101 November 24, 2009.
Republished January 11, 2012 on Sweet Suite Writings
Daphne du Maurier, Cornwall Romance Writer
Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) was born into an artistic family, with links to art, theatre, and film. The grand-daughter of George du Maurier-writer and artist-and daughter of Gerald du Maurier-famous British actor-Daphne nevertheless found that the trappings of London high society bored and distracted her. She found solace in quaint, quiet Cornwall, where she worked to develop her talent as a writer.The Early Writings at Ferryside, Bodinnick, Fowey
In the year 1927, aged twenty, Daphne finally got her wish to escape to Cornwall, where she found the conditions she needed to write. Her family purchased a home on Fowey Harbor, and Daphne was able to spend much time alone there.Mostly accompanied by her dog, Bingo, Daphne followed a writing schedule. What she noticed more than anything was her ability to write in Cornwall.
"I was never for one moment bored or depressed." (p. 116).
She began exploring the countryside, and writing short stories and sketches.
She wrote at a desk in her bedroom, from which she had a view of the harbor.
The Loving Spirit
During one of her rambles, Daphne had come across a schooner named the Jane Slade. Inspired by the ship. She was able to find the grave of Jane Symons, who was the model for the figurehead of the Jane Slade ship, and was given some of Jane's letters from the early 1800s.Du Maurier began to cut her writing teeth on a heart-felt story of Jane, titled The Loving Spirit.
Sailing in the Marie Louise
With the story of Jane Slade brewing in her mind, Daphne took walks, and found descendents of the Slade family who still worked on boats. From them, she purchased a sailboat, which gave her great solace.
As she wrote in her autobiography Myself When Young, "Utter peace comes upon me when out to sea." (p. 156).
Trespassing and Finding Menabilly
On one of her many walks, she also explored a deserted estate, the grounds over-grown, the ancient mansion falling into ruin. Daphne used the words "bewitched" to describe her feelings, and wrote in her diary, "The place has taken hold of me." (Myself When Young, p. 144). She would later return, and begin her famous masterpiece Rebecca, and live with her own family at Menabilly.The Loving Spirit, 1930-1931
In 1930, the manuscript for The Loving Spirit was accepted for publication. Despite her happiness at the publication, she also felt a depression upon finishing the novel. To combat being down in the dumps, she began another story.Thus began the writing career of Daphne du Maurier, who couldn't write in London, but who found the inspiration, peace, and solitude necessary for her by the sea in Cornwall.
References
Champion, Jim. Photographer. Pendour Cove and Trewey Cliff, Cornwall, England. 29 August, 2006.
Connolley, Mat. Photographer. Fowey Harbor.24 July 2007.
Du Maurier, Daphne. Myself When Young: The Shaping of a Writer. Garden City: New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1977.
Photo of Daphne du Maurier from Wikipedia Commons. About 1930.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Young_Daphne_du_Maurier.jpg
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