Mary Anne

In this novel, Daphne Du Maurier sheds a lot of brilliance to the life of Mary Anne Clarke, including her notoriety and her greed for a fancy high-class life.Mary Anne Thompson--later Clarke--who was the author’s great-great-grandmother lived during the early 19th century. She was born in 1776 into poverty on London’s East End. As a precocious and intelligent child, she made up her mind to become rich and important. As a clever and resourceful young teen, she learned copy editing by helping her stepfather.But she made a wrong move in 1791 when she mistakenly thought a young man to be rich as he had a father in business. Thus, Mary Anne eloped with Joseph Clarke, a stone mason who drank and gambled and whose father disowned him, cutting him off from his inheritance. Joseph’s behavior forced a desperate Mary Anne with four children to fend for the family. At the end, Joseph and Mary Anne’s relationship collapsed, and Mary Anne decided to become an escort to gentlemen of London’s high society.With the help of a iffy gentleman named Will Ogilvie, Mary Anne became the mistress of a prince, the Duke of York Frederick Augustus. As the prince didn’t pay her enough, she used her influence with him to provide favors to many people, getting them appointed to the military or other offices and being paid (commissioned would be a better word) by them.When her business was found out and made public, the Duke of York left her even though he probably knew what she had been doing.The rest of the story shows her involvement in scandals, intrigue, conspiracy, and scheming against the Duke and against one political party or and another, the plot giving way to some interesting historical court cases.Although the characterization in the story is superb, Mary Anne’s behavior didn’t endear her to me. The Duke of York, even after all she did, still helped her son. Then, although she had feelings and respect for the Duke, she caused his downfall for her own ends. In my opinion, this made her the villain and not a lovable protagonist, granted she might have been a feminist of the time who first fought for her rights and granted that Daphne Du Maurier was so taken with her.This quote from the book toward its end shows best the internal workings of this protagonist: "But that was life, that sudden ecstasy, that upsurge of the spirit for no reason, calling the blood at eight, or fifty-two. It came upon her now, as it always had done: a happy flood of feeling, a wild unrest. This moment counts. This moment, and no other."At times, the book reads like fiction, and at other times, it is straight history, but since I enjoy historical fiction, I read this book to the end and was very glad that I did.

I became interested in this book after reading du Maurier's earlier works, "Rebecca" and "My Cousin Rachel". This book differs in the sense that there is not the whole murder mystery aura overriding the story. However, it is just as riveting because of du Maurier's excellent affinity for creating compelling yet restrictive dialogue between characters. The entire book seems to be a well-played game between two societal camps at war with each other, and this is reflected even at the level of polite banter among the characters. The fact that this fiction is based on a very real relative of du Maurier's makes the story even more attractive. This book provides numerous hedonistic pleasures from its veiled references to sex to its focus on scandal and exploitative trends in society. To be more explicit, if you like to pick up the occasional tabloid in the grocery store for some unknown reason, you will feel a very rich reward along those lines when reading "Mary Anne". Though fiction, it's stunningly exact in details and makes one wonder about du Maurier's own personal experiences w/the aristrocratic society of early 20th Century England.

As a black woman, Mary Anne was the kind of white woman we all feared and that could make ylur life hell. She came from the gutter and all she had and has is her whiteness to trade on. I also loved how du Maurier gives us the framework of her character, the key elements the shaped her. I love that she wins and outlives them all and has the last laugh. (Double meaning intended.)A truly wonderful, entertaining read that is fast pasted with sex, war, scandal, politics, adiction and an examination of the war between the sexes.

I've always been a fan of Du Marier, but this one didn't keep me that interested. The characters weren't too likeable, so I didn't really care about them.

I grew up enjoying du Mauier's books. I was intrigued by this about a eighteenth century woman using her wiles to survive in a world of men. She does reach some notoriety, but her schemes often blow back on her and she is left to suffer the consequences. I don't think this one is one of her best books, but it does illustrate how women suffer at the whim of men.

Historical novel based on the life of the author's 2nd great grandmother. The title character is a mystery. Cheap hussy or woman striving to provide for her family. Hard worker or schemer and user? The Book is a fascinating read. Published in 1954. Dedicated to the real Mary Anne and also Gertrude Lawrence.

I can't wait to read a story that makes sense again. One that doesn't drag on and on. I would recommend this to someone only if the person likes, um, well, I suppose I wouldn't recommend this book to anybody.

It is obvious this writer understands her subject. I already loved Daphne du Maurier; now I have a greater appreciation of the author and her work. I love Fowey. Anyone who hasn't been there needs to go. On second thought, don't contribute to the congestion (the inhabitants don't need more rude, ignorant American tourists who spoil the fun for the Americans who appreciate other cultures.

Interesting the life of the friends of the then Duke of York. It’s amazing how even back in history the Duke of York wanted the special people in his life to provide more than his special allowances would cover. Suppliers to his consorts ended up either bankrupt or absorbing the costs themselves. A very interesting read

As has been said before, this tails off once the court cases commence, with pages of reported speech, letters etc. By the time the heroine is released from prison, we find her in France with the remainder years tacked on at the end and taking only a few pages. It was as though Du Marier had run out of steam. Du Maurier was fortunate to have a readymade ancestor.

Daphne du maurier novel's - for me - are either wow superb or pretty rotten, and this is a wow superb one.Very exciting and racing the main character, having been let down by every male in her life from her childhood to womanhood, decides to fit the man's world in the only way she can see how...feisty interesting character apparently based on maurier's great grandmotherIt's a excellent read(read Rebecca and the King's General if you havent already both are so very good..or this one which also is!)

I'm about 2 thirds through this book and can't put it down. I will send a more detailed review when finished. So far so good .

The story and the characters are good although it is not Daphne's best work. But there are terrible terrible spelling mistakes through the whole book so that Mr. is more often spelt Airs and Mary as Airy. I don't know if it is reference to her early days as a type checker but it is jut really annoying