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Daphne Du Maurier
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Mary Anne Kindle Edition

by Daphne Saxby Taylor (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 465 ratings
In peaceful Hertfordshire of New South Wales in the mid-nineteenth century, a bored and reckless man who leads a swashbuckling life in the army of the East Indian Company is told by the overseer that a married man has more chance of gaining a pardon from the penal colony and being granted land. Gentle Mary Anne becomes the unwitting wife of such a man, sold for a bottle of rum. With no other prospects, she takes her mother's advice to love and care for her husband and his children in hopes that loving a hard man consistently will bring about the happily-ever-after she longs for.
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  1. Print length
    266 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 1, 2010
  4. File size
    2.6 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003Y3BPP4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Writers Exchange E-Publishing (August 1, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 266 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1798686449
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 465 ratings

About the author

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Daphne Du Maurier

Daphne Du Maurier

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Daphne du Maurier was born in 1906 and educated at home and in Paris. She began writing in 1928, and many of her bestselling novels were set in Cornwall, where she lived for most of her life. She was made a DBE in 1969 and died in 1989.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
465 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a worthwhile read with literately crafted tales of intrigue. They appreciate its authenticity, with one customer noting its stunningly exact details.

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20 customers mention "Readability"14 positive6 negative

Customers find the book readable and entertaining, with one customer noting it is well-written.

"...The entire book seems to be a well-played game between two societal camps at war with each other, and this is reflected even at the level of polite..." Read more

"...which have been turned into excellent movies- or the beautiful and lyric prose 'Marie Anne' or Rebecca', is satisfying and emotionally." Read more

"...her Historical Novels, knowing they have been well researched and well written - and based on REAL people." Read more

"...This moment, and no other." At times, the book reads like fiction, and at other times, it is straight history, but since I enjoy..." Read more

10 customers mention "Story quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the literary craftsmanship of the book's tales of intrigue, with one customer noting that the story-line moves at a good pace.

"...This book provides numerous hedonistic pleasures from its veiled references to sex to its focus on scandal and exploitative trends in society...." Read more

"...to be "true to life" during the times depicted and the story-line moved along at a good pace...." Read more

"...(lesser known to our time, but not in hers) and to read literately crafted tales of intrigue, nuance and mystery rather than the generally inept and..." Read more

"...She is strong-willed, has indomitable intent, and immense energy to go out and do it...." Read more

4 customers mention "Authenticity"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book, with one review noting it is based on real people and another highlighting its stunningly exact details.

"...Though fiction, it's stunningly exact in details and makes one wonder about du Maurier's own personal experiences w/the aristrocratic society of..." Read more

"...I found the story to be "true to life" during the times depicted and the story-line moved along at a good pace...." Read more

"As ever with du Maurier, ease of phrase and elegant invention of metaphor are coupled with a master story-teller's weaving of interest and suspense...." Read more

"Believable Biography..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • N. F. Brandon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic yet intriguing du Maurier
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    I became interested in this book after reading du Maurier's earlier works, "Rebecca" and "My Cousin Rachel". This book differs in the sense that there is not the whole murder mystery aura overriding the story. However, it is just as riveting because of du Maurier's excellent affinity for creating compelling yet restrictive dialogue between characters. The entire book seems to be a well-played game between two societal camps at war with each other, and this is reflected even at the level of polite banter among the characters. The fact that this fiction is based on a very real relative of du Maurier's makes the story even more attractive. This book provides numerous hedonistic pleasures from its veiled references to sex to its focus on scandal and exploitative trends in society. To be more explicit, if you like to pick up the occasional tabloid in the grocery store for some unknown reason, you will feel a very rich reward along those lines when reading "Mary Anne". Though fiction, it's stunningly exact in details and makes one wonder about du Maurier's own personal experiences w/the aristrocratic society of early 20th Century England.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Joy Cagil
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, Fictionalized life-story of Du Maurier's Ancestor
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2020
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    In this novel, Daphne Du Maurier sheds a lot of brilliance to the life of Mary Anne Clarke, including her notoriety and her greed for a fancy high-class life.

    Mary Anne Thompson--later Clarke--who was the author’s great-great-grandmother lived during the early 19th century. She was born in 1776 into poverty on London’s East End. As a precocious and intelligent child, she made up her mind to become rich and important. As a clever and resourceful young teen, she learned copy editing by helping her stepfather.

    But she made a wrong move in 1791 when she mistakenly thought a young man to be rich as he had a father in business. Thus, Mary Anne eloped with Joseph Clarke, a stone mason who drank and gambled and whose father disowned him, cutting him off from his inheritance. Joseph’s behavior forced a desperate Mary Anne with four children to fend for the family. At the end, Joseph and Mary Anne’s relationship collapsed, and Mary Anne decided to become an escort to gentlemen of London’s high society.

    With the help of a iffy gentleman named Will Ogilvie, Mary Anne became the mistress of a prince, the Duke of York Frederick Augustus. As the prince didn’t pay her enough, she used her influence with him to provide favors to many people, getting them appointed to the military or other offices and being paid (commissioned would be a better word) by them.

    When her business was found out and made public, the Duke of York left her even though he probably knew what she had been doing.

    The rest of the story shows her involvement in scandals, intrigue, conspiracy, and scheming against the Duke and against one political party or and another, the plot giving way to some interesting historical court cases.

    Although the characterization in the story is superb, Mary Anne’s behavior didn’t endear her to me. The Duke of York, even after all she did, still helped her son. Then, although she had feelings and respect for the Duke, she caused his downfall for her own ends. In my opinion, this made her the villain and not a lovable protagonist, granted she might have been a feminist of the time who first fought for her rights and granted that Daphne Du Maurier was so taken with her.

    This quote from the book toward its end shows best the internal workings of this protagonist: "But that was life, that sudden ecstasy, that upsurge of the spirit for no reason, calling the blood at eight, or fifty-two. It came upon her now, as it always had done: a happy flood of feeling, a wild unrest. This moment counts. This moment, and no other."

    At times, the book reads like fiction, and at other times, it is straight history, but since I enjoy historical fiction, I read this book to the end and was very glad that I did.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Randy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some entertainment, lots of blah blah
    Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
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    I can't wait to read a story that makes sense again. One that doesn't drag on and on. I would recommend this to someone only if the person likes, um, well, I suppose I wouldn't recommend this book to anybody.
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  • Rusty Nuggets
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful prose
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
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    I can't get enough of Daphne du Maurier. I'm reading everything I can get my hands. Her style- whether eerie short stories, which include 'The Birds' and 'Don't Look Now'- both of which have been turned into excellent movies- or the beautiful and lyric prose 'Marie Anne' or Rebecca', is satisfying and emotionally.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Patricia Braden
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great portrayal of Pioneering life in the mid 1800's.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2014
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    I cannot understand why the previous reviewer didn't enjoy Mary Ann. I found the story to be "true to life" during the times depicted and the story-line moved along at a good pace. I was able to relate to my own forebears who had also been pioneers in the mid 19th Century, and there were many scenarios that had also affected my Great, Great Grandparents (NO, not the RUM - but so much else). I feel that anyone who wants to get a feeling for the problems our Pioneers experienced, in a district which we now consider only a couple of hours from Sydney, should enjoy the "history" behind the story. I certainly didn't want to put it down. I had previously read Daphne Saxby Taylor's "Wilhelmina" and will be looking for more of her Historical Novels, knowing they have been well researched and well written - and based on REAL people.
    One person found this helpful
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  • C-Money
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2017
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    Historical novel based on the life of the author's 2nd great grandmother. The title character is a mystery. Cheap hussy or woman striving to provide for her family. Hard worker or schemer and user? The Book is a fascinating read. Published in 1954. Dedicated to the real Mary Anne and also Gertrude Lawrence.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Claude Roessiger
    5.0 out of 5 stars it's a good story and good entertainment
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2015
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    As ever with du Maurier, ease of phrase and elegant invention of metaphor are coupled with a master story-teller's weaving of interest and suspense. It is a pleasure to discover du Maurier's lesser known works (lesser known to our time, but not in hers) and to read literately crafted tales of intrigue, nuance and mystery rather than the generally inept and often ungrammatical writing of today. For Mary Anne one suspects that du Maurier reached into history, as she often does, to call forth elements of her story, but she does not fall into the genre of the historical novel: it's a good story and good entertainment.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • blewis
    3.0 out of 5 stars A woman scorned
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2020
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    I grew up enjoying du Mauier's books. I was intrigued by this about a eighteenth century woman using her wiles to survive in a world of men. She does reach some notoriety, but her schemes often blow back on her and she is left to suffer the consequences. I don't think this one is one of her best books, but it does illustrate how women suffer at the whim of men.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • mrs_t
    5.0 out of 5 stars exciting read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2009
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    Daphne du maurier novel's - for me - are either wow superb or pretty rotten, and this is a wow superb one.
    Very exciting and racing the main character, having been let down by every male in her life from her childhood to womanhood, decides to fit the man's world in the only way she can see how...
    feisty interesting character apparently based on maurier's great grandmother
    It's a excellent read
    (read Rebecca and the King's General if you havent already both are so very good..or this one which also is!)
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  • A Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2015
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    Wonderfully detailed historical read. I loved how in depth it was and the characters were well-rounded. At times it was a little hard to keep track of things like during the court scenes, but if you pay close attention you can get through it.
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  • Mr R D Walker
    4.0 out of 5 stars 0000. Very good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2020
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    This book is well written as you would expect from this author,she is able to create a clear picture and sets each scene.the main character is easy to visualize and the story reflects the age and paints a clear picture of the country of the time
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  • Chrisda
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not hugely satisfying but the point was made i.e. woman in a mans' world
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2017
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    As has been said before, this tails off once the court cases commence, with pages of reported speech, letters etc. By the time the heroine is released from prison, we find her in France with the remainder years tacked on at the end and taking only a few pages. It was as though Du Marier had run out of steam. Du Maurier was fortunate to have a readymade ancestor.
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  • Judith
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Grand Old Duke of York
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2022
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    Interesting the life of the friends of the then Duke of York. It’s amazing how even back in history the Duke of York wanted the special people in his life to provide more than his special allowances would cover. Suppliers to his consorts ended up either bankrupt or absorbing the costs themselves. A very interesting read
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