Hallowe’en used to last one day: now it is a two-month celebration of corn syrup and horror. The candy corn appears in August. The Halloween cards soon follow. As for pumpkin spice lattes, I say, “Don’t.”
I admit I am frightened of some of the more graphic decorations. I like the green-skinned Elphaba witches, the inflatable black cats, and the plastic gravestones. But I do draw the line at the 12-ft.-tall skeleton that has not been taken down since September 2024! Perhaps the house is haunted. That’s the only explanation.
So you may wonder: what does a person scared of plastic skeletons do for Halloween? Naturally, I read Daphne du Maurier’s classic tales.
Daphne du Maurier’s After Midnight: Thirteen Tales for the Dark Hours is a fascinating collection of her tales, with an introduction by Stephen King. This stunning hardback was published in September, and it is one of my favorite books of the year.
Two of her most famous stories, “The Birds” and “Don’t Look Now,” were the inspiration for movies. The former is terrifying, the latter a tragedy. In “The Birds,” the avians seem determined to kill off the human race, and the jackdaws and seagulls are the first attackers. A family tries to defend itself, but things look grim. Alfred Hitchcock’s movie approaches it a bit differently, but is true to the spirit.
In “Don’t Look Now,” a couple go to Venice hoping to distract themselves from the horror of their little girl’s death. This story unfolds as a tragedy about what happens if you refuse to believe in psychic phenomena. The movie Don’t Look Now is also brilliant, but so sad and horrifying that I haven’t returned to it.
I ration myself to one of these stories a day, because I need to look at what lurks beneath the terror, what it says about human fallacy, carelessness, and sometimes malice. One of her best stories, “The Blue Lenses,” could be designated either as “horror” or “fantasy.” It is the story of a woman who, after an eye operation, is fitted with blue lenses. What she sees will haunt you.
I came upon this collection by chance, as so often happens with books. In addition to the two stories I described above, the book includes “The Alibi,” “The Apple Tree,“Monte Verita,” “The Pool,” “The Doll,” “Ganymede,”“Leading Lady,” “Not After Midnight,” “Split Second,” and “The Breakthrough.”
I have savored Du Maurier’s novels in the past: now for the short stories. Yes, we can read ghost stories by E. F. Benson and M. R. James, but it is the world of Daphne du Maurier that resonates with me.
Love her books. Especially Frenchman’s Creek, Rebecca, and Jamaica Inn. Make great movies too.
I LOVE Rebecca. And today I read a really creepy story, “Alibi. Just when you think there will be redemption…
I am glad you are enjoying her stories. Some are of her time and others fit into any era I feel. I am not a fan of Stephen King, so any comments he makes goes way over my head…not bothered what he thinks. I rarely read a critique of a book before reading it myself. If I like the blurb and first chapter I will continue with it. The fact that someone like him likes or disliked an author or story is of no consequence to me. Pure readers, without an axe to grind, are of more value to me re their criticisms. Just saying I am glad you loved Rebecca. Such a clever story. We never get to know her name (the new wife). Yet, the story is gripping and you cannot put it down. Oh, to write like that!
I agree the stories are for our times as well as hers. She is so savvy that invents realistic characters, no matter how peculair is the plot. Yes, it’s best not to read the prefaces or intros until you’ve finished the book. Who cares what they think?
Daphne du Maurier is sui generis!
Yes she is.
I love du Maurier, but aside from Rebecca and The Parasites (and perhaps My Cousin Rachel) I’m more impressed with her shorter works than her novels. Although I don’t have this particular collection (it sounds lovely BTW) I have most of these stories in various other anthologies. My very favorite is “Don’t Look Now” (I agree the movie is tragic but it’s so great I re-watch every decade or two). As for “The Birds” — where is there a better depiction of existential, environmental dread?
I just read a creepy short story, “The Alibi.” This one made me want to scream. When I finish the book, I’ll let you know my thoughts. Meanwhile, EEEEEEEEEK.