Book Review: Frenchman's Creek by Daphne DuMaurier

Frenchman's Creek. Daphne DuMaurier. Sourcebooks Landmark (2009) (First published 1941). 284 pages. Genre: Classic.

First Line: "When the east wind blows up Helford River the shining waters become troubled and disturbed and the little waves beat angrily upon the sandy shores."

Summary:  Dona St. Columb is tired of the constraints of society life in London.  So she takes her children and their maid to Navron, the family's country house in Cornwall.  Upon arrival she meets a impertinent servant who seems to have made himself at home while the family has been away.  When he mentions to her that there are rumors of pirates in the area, Dona finds herself intrigued.  She begins to take long walks in the nearby woods.  She soon discovers a creek she was unaware of and in the creek is a pirate's ship.  Against better judgement, she arranges to meet the pirate.  What follows is the adventure she didn't know she needed.

My thoughts:  This is a fun story that many can relate to.  We have all experienced the feeling of being trapped or stuck in a certain situation, but few of us are able to indulge in an adventure involving danger, excitement and pirates. 

Daphne DuMaurier is a masterful storyteller.  As a reader you are swept away in the adventure.  Her descriptions of the countryside, the sky, the mists on the water, the waves all help you feel like you are right there with Dona.  The main characters are also well drawn.  The dialogue, combined with descriptions of facial expressions really give the reader an understanding of the characters.  Speaking of the dialogue, it is crisp and keeps the story moving along.  The story did feel a little unrealistic to me, but I think that was the whole point.  It is like daydream one would come up with when they find their existence dreary. 

I didn't necessarily agree with the choices Dona made, but over the course of the novel she makes some major changes in her thinking.  The book really highlights the struggle between freedom and constraint and shows that neither one is ideal.  There are negatives to having complete freedom, but there are also positives to having some constraint. 

While the book did cover some heavier topics, the overall tone was light and fun.  If you are looking for a well-written story that will take you out of your day to day existence, you might like this one.

Quotes:

"She would lie out in her garden hour after hour, her hands behind her head, watching the butterflies as they frolicked in the sun, and chased one another, and had their moment; listening to the birds intent upon domestic life among the branches, so busy, so ardent, like newly-wed couples proud of their first home polished as a pin."

"'It is easier then, for a man,' she said, 'a man is a creator, his happiness comes in the things he achieves.  What he makes with his hands, with his brains, with his talents.'

'Possibly,' he said. 'But women are not idle. Women have babies.  That is a greater achievement than the making of a drawing or the planning of an action.'"

"'You understand now,' he said, 'how simple life becomes when things like mirrors are forgotten.'"