Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier

This classic dark thriller has been read and loved by generations for years.

It continues to be enjoyed by readers of all ages with its mystery, intrigue and suspense all wrapped around a love story, written in fantastic prose.

But Jamaica Inn is starting to show its age. It is important to remember De Maurier wrote this in 1935/36 and is set many years before, in a world when women are seen and behaved differently to today.

Many elements show women to be a second-class citizen, on par with children. Weak, obedient and helpless, but this is either showing how life was in those times or being ironic.  

The character of Mary Yellan is determined to be a strong willed and independent women battling against her vile uncle Joss Merlyn in an attempt to look after her poor aunt who would do anything to please her husband.

 

But Mary falls in love with her uncle’s brother Jem and she knows he is someone who she would never be able to trust. Within minutes Mary falls into the same obedient situation as her aunt, as history begins to repeat itself.  

There is also the constant theme of Mary trying to be brave and fearful only for incidents to come back at her and leave her helpless like “all women and children after a tragedy.”

Jamaica Inn was published on the cusp of female rights and independence, so did it play a role in improving perceptions in society? Possibly.

The early stages of the book do set the scene for later in the story and it is worth sticking with it to get beyond the pages and pages of Mary’s extremely descriptive walks over the moors.

The second half of Jamaica Inn from when Mary and Jem travel to Launceston market together is when the novel comes into its own and becomes an enjoyable page-turner of a thriller. The relationship between Mary and the vicar of Alternun especially as it becomes very similar to that of Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter.

Du Maurier writes in an amazing and descriptive prose. Sometimes the detail can get in the way which stops Jamaica Inn becoming a five-star story, but only just.

The Review of Books score: 4/5