Monday, July 2, 2012

Ten of the best conflagrations in literature

At the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best conflagrations in literature.

One entry on the list:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

At the beginning of the novel, we find out that Manderley has burned down; the explanation comes at the novel's end. Having discovered Rebecca's evil schemes, Maxim drives his wife, the heroine, back to Cornwall, through the night. The housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, has disappeared and, as they come over the hill above Manderley, they see why: the house is ablaze.
Read about the other great fires on the list.

Rebecca appears on Tess Gerritsen's list of five favorite thrillers, Mary Horlock's list of the five best psychos in literature, and Derwent May's critic's chart of top country house books.

--Marshal Zeringue