Celebrating Daphne du Maurier's Birthday – 13th May 2024
A beautiful photograph of Daphne, dated 24th July 1930
On this day in 1907, Daphne du Maurier was born, so join us as we celebrate the 117th anniversary of her birth.
If you are in Fowey, perhaps because you are attending the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature, you might like to take part in one of the Daphne du Maurier-related events that are taking place today.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the sun will shine today, and then you might like to take a walk to some of the places in and around Fowey that were the inspiration for many of Daphne's Cornish novels and short stories. It might even be warm enough to sit out in the sun with a drink or an ice cream while you read something of Daphne's writing.
If you aren't in Fowey today, and people who love Daphne du Maurier's writing could be anywhere in the world, you could read one of Daphne's short stories or start one of her novels or biographies, or you could watch one of the films of Daphne's books.
Much of the focus on Daphne du Maurier in this year's festival is on her short story, and the film Don't Look Now. Here at the Daphne du Maurier website we watched the movie at the weekend. We have seen it many times and read the short story lots of times, too. Daphne du Maurier loved the film and what the director, Nick Roeg, had done with her story to create such a brilliant movie. It is still the film that the du Maurier Browning family are most proud of. It is absolutely iconic. So, maybe that would be the story to read or the movie to watch to remember Daphne and the genius of her writing on her birthday today.
However, you spend today, enjoy it. Daphne du Maurier's birthday is a very special day.