'New' Daphne du Maurier book!

Isn't this the most exciting news! http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/feb/21/daphne-du-maurier-stories-discovered

I've pre-ordered my copy and can't wait for it to arrive. These recently discovered stories are described as "macabre and sinister" and those are the kind of stories (think Don't Look Now etc) I love best from this mistress of the short story genre. All we need now is an undiscovered novel and I really will think I've died and gone to heaven.

that is pretty terrific. I just finished The Scapegoat and thought it was marvelous. I don't think I've ever read her short stories though. Sounds like she wrote them in a similar vein to Shirley Jackson.

Oddly, I'd never thought to compare her writing to Shirley Jackson's before, but I think you make an excellent point - there are definite similarities. I wouldn't say I'm a massive short story fan (there are just a few authors who I think have a perfect grasp on the genre and I tend to stick with those) but DdM's are superlative. I guess everyone has their favourite (and very often, that favourite is Don't Look Now) but another one which has always been special to me is 'No Motive', which can be found in the collection The Rendezvous. Although it's less sinister (and less well-known) than many of her stories it does haunt me and has continued to do so for years.

I'm definitely going to have to find some of her short work. I'm not a huge short story fan either, but sometimes they are deliciously perfect. Joyce Carol Oates is one author I prefer in shorts to novels, but most of the time it works the other way around. I've read every Patrick McGrath novel, but never his short fiction. Strange.

Ooh! Lovely. I really like her short stories. I am a fan. Even though my dislike of Max de Winter made a nutcase on here call me illiterate, remember that thread! You're not supposed to like him! I'll be getting a copy.

There are a few of them about, J. And let's face it - wife murderers are soooo attractive. We'll compare notes the minute we read this one.

It arrived this morning! I'm soooooooo excited! Who else has got it?

How did you get it this morning? Order it direct from publisher? I just looked on Amazon and it says it won't be out until November. We are talking about "The Doll: Short Stories" by Daphne Du Maurier, right? My daughter and I both love her writing.

MrsLee I think that the release date might be different in the UK.

Ah yes - sorry MrsLee, I get so used to books appearing first in the US that it comes as quite a shock when they get published over here first. I suppose it's inevitable with someone like DdM but another six months is a long wait. I'll just pique your appetite a bit by saying you have a treat to look forward to.

My local bookshop says du Maurier's The Doll will be available here in Australia next month. Looking forward to that.

I hope yu enjoy it as much as I did, Thrin. I didn't think the title story was the best of her work but the rest of the book is typical du Maurier. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it.