While the classic "Rebecca" is widely regarded as Daphne du Maurier's best work, I believe that "Frenchman's Creek" is also worthy of recognition. This is a lovely tale of an upper-class woman who is bored of her pompous daily life and desperately desires the freedom to do as she pleases, and as I found this theme interesting I was absorbed in the novel from the first page. As ever, du Maurier uses extensive, sophisticated vocabulary, which makes this novel a great challenge for teenagers and upwards, but possibly too difficult to follow for younger readers. While this novel is not a relentless page-turner, the plot is more adventurous than that of other du Maurier novels and I found myself wishing to read on more often than not, eager to discover what Lady Dona and her newly found true love, Jean-Pierre Aubery, would encounter next as they sailed on Aubery's pirate ship.
If you are not a romance or history lover, do not be discouraged from purchasing this wonderful novel. I generally stay clear of this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Frenchman's Creek"; the romance is slight and is not over-the-top. The characters have been deeply thought out and are in no way superficial, while du Maurier's carefully chosen words perfectly paint a picture of the beautiful setting, whether it is in the middle of the English Channel or at the trademark grand house in the midst of breathtaking gardens. A refreshing read for lovers of intelligently written work.