∎ Libro Gratis The Scapegoat Daphne Du Maurier 9781844080977 Books

The Scapegoat Daphne Du Maurier 9781844080977 Books

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The Scapegoat Daphne Du Maurier 9781844080977 Books

I was searching for a movie to watch when this movie popped up. I have a strong rule about reading the book version first, because it has never failed me in the past. Had I watched the movie instead of reading the book, I **never** would have touched the book, which would have been a shame. This book is a gem. It's thoughtful and has many beautiful moments. I especially connected to the main character's struggle to let "the man within" out to play. This book is for anyone who wishes they could break past their own prison bars and live the life they fantasize about....


Tags : The Scapegoat [Daphne Du Maurier] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. By chance, two men - one English, the other French - meet in a provincial railway station. Their physical resemblance is uncanny,Daphne Du Maurier,The Scapegoat,Time Warner Books Uk,1844080978,Classic fiction,Literature: Classics

The Scapegoat Daphne Du Maurier 9781844080977 Books Reviews

Wow - the premise of this story is intriguing, and you're wondering how it can end up. A man's identity is stolen, but he gets another's in return. Suspense builds as the main character learns more about the other man's life and as he tries to keep the switch a secret. Wonderful characterization and build-up.

If you like this, I would also recommend Rebecca (another Du Maurier book) and the movie Dead Ringer starring Bette Davis.
What would you do if you one day meet your exact body double? And what would you do if this body double came along at the best possible time? That's what happens to Jean de Gue, a French aristocrat who wants to escape from his personal responsibilities. He meets "John," a lonely, bored English history professor on holiday in France. One night of drinking, sharing and mischief turns to the improbable when John wakes up the next morning in the hotel room alone, with all of his possessions gone -- all except for his identical companion's belongings. Before he knows it, he is taken to de Gue's estate, where he encounters the man's entire family. In one week, he learns all of Jean's secrets, most of which include deception and cruelty. The family business is in trouble, Jean's daughter has some quirks, Jean's sister hasn't spoken to him in fifteen years, his mother is addicted to morphine and his wife is having his second child. Will this reluctant impostor help the family or make things worse?

There is a lot of symbolism in this novel. I couldn't put it down. It is amazing how people believe what they want to believe, even if something is staring at them right in the face. There is also the thing about spending a lifetime with someone and not know them at all, as it is the case with Jean de Gue and his dysfunctional relationship with his mother, sister and brother. I enjoy Daphne du Maurier's first-person narrative and contemporary novels (set and published in the 1950s) better than her period novels written in third person. John's language is precise, insightful and beautiful, and even though he is naive at times, it just makes him all the more appealing. He lacks Jean's malice, and that is just one of several things that makes him different from his otherwise identical "friend." The ending is a little disappointing, but it does leave you thinking about love and life. All in all, I enjoyed The Scapegoat. I think I like this just as much as Rebecca. A wonderful piece of fiction. I look forward to reading more of du Maurier's work.
A word of warning, I read the introduction to this book on and it contained a few spoiler alerts!! I am a great fan of Daphne du Maurier. I love all her historical dramas so I wasn't sure if I would like a more modern theme. I was not disappointed. That ability she has to make the reader feel they are almost part of the scene is evident in this book also. She really brings everything to life. It seems a ridiculous idea that two people could swap identity and no one would know. Somehow it worked here. So many situation occurred that I wondered how John ( or Jean) would get out of but somehow he pulled it off and it didn't seem far-fetched or unrealistic. I wasn't sure I liked the ending of the book because I didn't know how the next era of Jean would work out but i guess that's left to the reader's imagination.
The Scapegoat tells the story of an Englishman who crosses paths with a Frenchman of near-identical appearance and, through a bizarre set of circumstances, ends up assuming his identity. This elaborate act encompasses everything from securing the future of the family business (a glass foundry) to maintaining the delicate balance between his new family and mistress. This was a fun read, and I would recommend it.

Note that the ASIN I'm reviewing here (B004F0PUME) is an alternate listing for this book, specifically for the 1957 hardcover edition, which is exactly what I received when I ordered from this listing. If you want to see more reviews for the book in general regardless of print date, search for "The Scapegoat" or 081221725X in .
Read this when it was first published and loved it. The writing is smooth and exact, the characters carefully written and the plot, well it is unlikely but never mind the story pulls you in and makes you a willing reader.
I am embarrassed to say that it took the 2012 movie with John Rhys to turn me on to Daphne Du Maurier. She was one of those author's on my must read one day list. I am sorry I waited so long. Following the movie I read Du Maurier's probably most noted book Rebecca, which was annoyingly good (I wanted to dislike the main character as she is so servile - but I couldn't help but feel some empathy for her). Then decided to read the Scapegoat, having thought that I would have ruined my enjoyment of the book because I had seen the movie first. I was wrong. The book is really quite different - in fact you could probably say the movie is "loosely" based on Du Maurier's story. And as is often the case the book was so much better. A really good tale with clever plot twists and strong characters. Don't put off reading Du Maurier's works - you will only be disappointed with yourself for waiting.
I was searching for a movie to watch when this movie popped up. I have a strong rule about reading the book version first, because it has never failed me in the past. Had I watched the movie instead of reading the book, I **never** would have touched the book, which would have been a shame. This book is a gem. It's thoughtful and has many beautiful moments. I especially connected to the main character's struggle to let "the man within" out to play. This book is for anyone who wishes they could break past their own prison bars and live the life they fantasize about....