Daphne du Maurier’s personal and legal challenges in the late 1940s played a significant role in inspiring her 1951 novel *My Cousin Rachel*, according to recently revealed accounts. The period was marked by emotional turmoil linked to a high-profile trial and a complex relationship that shaped her creative output.
The trial involved claims that du Maurier’s novel *Rebecca* bore substantial similarities to an earlier work, *Blind Windows*, by another author, Mrs. MacDonald. The prosecution presented 46 points of alleged parallels between the two books and subjected du Maurier to intense questioning during the proceedings. Although no definitive evidence was provided to substantiate the accusations, the experience was taxing for du Maurier, particularly as she testified thousands of miles from home. Following the conclusion of the trial in November 1947, she returned to England physically and mentally exhausted.
Du Maurier’s private life at this time also was fraught. She had developed a deep, though unreciprocated, affection for Ellen Doubleday, the wife of her American publisher. The two maintained a close friendship, exchanging frequent correspondence, although Ellen’s responses were measured and less frequent. To process her feelings, du Maurier channeled her emotions into writing, producing a play titled *September Tide*—a narrative centered on unrequited love. The work’s plot mirrors aspects of her infatuation, but recasts it as a heterosexual romance, allowing her to explore her feelings with some distance.
The author’s renewed creative energy was soon overshadowed by the death of Ellen’s husband, Nelson Doubleday, in January 1949. Du Maurier expressed profound sympathy and a desire to provide support, though Ellen remained distant. Despite planned travels together through Paris and Italy, Ellen set clear boundaries early on, disavowing any romantic implications in their relationship.
During this trip, du Maurier confronted the realization that she needed to move beyond her emotional attachment to Ellen. This introspective period gave rise to the initial concept for *My Cousin Rachel*. The novel, set in Cornwall, centers on themes of obsession, suspicion, and ambiguous motivations between the young Philip Ashley and his late cousin’s enigmatic widow, Rachel. Du Maurier later acknowledged that the character of Rachel was inspired by Ellen — a creative device she used to work through her feelings. She explained that embedding this inspiration within a fictional character helped her “rid” herself of the associated emotional turmoil.
Published in July 1951 with an initial print run of 125,000 copies, *My Cousin Rachel* was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. The novel’s film rights sold for £50,000. Reviewers praised du Maurier’s ability to craft a suspenseful story that blurred innocence and guilt, a hallmark that prompted enduring debate among readers about Rachel’s true nature. Du Maurier herself maintained ambiguity on the subject, emphasizing instead the novel’s exploration of jealousy as a corrosive force.
These revelations about the intersection of du Maurier’s personal struggles and creative process shed light on the emotional depth behind one of her most celebrated works.