... a large, prominently scrawled R in her letters to Browning. That is where Daphne got the inspiration and strong willed character behind Rebecca for the book. She claimed "Rebecca stood out black and strong" (House 1). Du Maurier owned a house called Menabilly hidden in the woods, which ... of the once grand estate full of history is ashes. "Readers love it, as well they should, for in the best gothic fiction, realism and romance join forces to create a territory somewhere between this world and some other in which almost everything is slightly, deliciously over the top ... " (Yardley 1)...

• Word Count: 3228
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... became a huge success, and Scott began a long career as a historical novelist. Many of his works were about the history of Scotland, but his best and most famous novel, 1819's Ivanhoe, had nothing to do with Scotland at all. Set in England in the last years of the twelfth century, Ivanhoe ... around 1194. This has led many contemporary critics, especially fans of Scott's popular Waverly novels, to criticize the book. But it is crucial to remember that Ivanhoe, unlike the Waverly books, is entirely a romance. It is meant to please, not to instruct, and is more an act of imagination than o...

• Word Count: 5597
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School