The Daphne du Maurier Literary Festival celebrates the life, works, and enduring legacy of one of Cornwall’s most beloved authors. Inspired by the landscapes and stories that shaped her imagination, the Festival brings together readers, writers, and visitors in the beautiful town of Fowey, where Daphne spent much of her life.
Each year, the programme features a special strand of du Maurier-themed events, from guided walks exploring the places that inspired her novels, to readings, talks, and discussions about her life and writing.
Daphne’s connection to Cornwall began early in her life. The du Maurier family spent many holidays along the Cornish coast, and in 1926 they discovered Ferryside, a house in Bodinnick-by-Fowey, which soon became their second home. Deeply inspired by her surroundings, Daphne wrote her first novel, The Loving Spirit, at Ferryside, a book that would change her life in more ways than one.
Major Tommy (“Boy”) Browning was so moved by The Loving Spirit that he sailed to Fowey to meet its author. The two fell in love and married at Lanteglos Church in 1932. Though Daphne spent much of the next decade away, Cornwall always called her back.
In 1943, while her husband was serving in the war, Daphne returned to Fowey with her three children, renting Readymoney House. Years earlier, she had discovered Menabilly, a secluded estate belonging to the Rashleigh family. Captivated by the house, she later rented it and moved in that same year. Menabilly would go on to inspire much of her writing, including the famous setting of Manderley in Rebecca.
When her lease on Menabilly ended in 1969, Daphne moved just a mile away to Kilmarth, another Rashleigh property. She remained in Cornwall for the rest of her life, drawing strength and inspiration from the place she loved most.
Dame Daphne du Maurier passed away on 19 April 1989, leaving behind a remarkable literary legacy: numerous novels, short stories, biographies, and her own autobiography. Her deep affection for Cornwall lives on through her words and through this Festival, which continues to celebrate her extraordinary connection to the landscape and spirit of Fowey.
