When I finished listening to the audiobook version of Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier, I was left sitting at my kitchen table in floods of tears. What a moving story! The first thing I thought after I finished was that this was rather like The Bridges of Madison County – a woman is married to someone and has children with him, but her true love comes later and she must ultimately decide between her family and her lover.
This historical fiction novel is set during the reign of Charles II and Dona St. Colomb is a bored woman who engages in silly, juvenile pranks around the court. One day she has enough and decides to leave London and go to Cornwall, where her husband has a house, Navron. It is here that she finds some peace and quiet in woods around the house, and one day she finds herself by a creek in which there is a pirate ship, called La Mouette…
I won’t go into detail, but the story gets very interesting from that point on. If someone like me – a person who studies 17th-century piracy – can get swept away by Aubery, I don’t know who wouldn’t. I want to go on La Mouette with him and sail into the sunset. All the characters are delightfully created and although I had a strong dislike of Dona in the beginning, I soon warmed to her (which I think was the intention). It didn’t take long to warm to the Frenchman – crikey! What a character. I absolutely loved this book, which I am sure I’ll reread again because it is such a treasure.
Daphne du Maurier is one of my all-time favourite authors, along with Dorothy Dunnett and Winston Graham. My ambition is for someone to think I write as well as her. I re-read her books regularly and none of them disappoint.
I, too, love Du Maurier, though I haven’t read her in years. You’ve made me want to re-read Frenchman’s Creek right away!
I really want to read this. Did you see the TV version a few years ago?
My English teacher at school in the 80s called Frenchman’s Creek “the most romantic book I had ever read” & I have to agree. I’m now 50 myself and have been in academia all my life and am an avid reader. However, no other book restores my hope in love and romance more than Frenchman’s Creek, nor could I imagine a more romantic or gallant expression of masculinity than Aubery. It is probably my favourite book and restores my soul.
Hi Saira! Sorry for the delay in replying to you, but I’m finally able to get back to my blog. I agree with you about Aubery. What a character! I think I still prefer this book to de Maurier’s other c17 novel, The King’s General, which I found rather depressing. I hope you are well.