THE DU MAURIERS

Gerald starts with the marriage of "Kicky" (George) du Maurier. The du Mauriers turns back the clock to the childhood of Ellen, "Kicky's" mother, when the scandal broke over the flaxen head of her very questionable, but certainly fascinating, mother, and brings the story down to this same marriage. So the two books tell the story — and tell it as entertainingly as any fiction and more orginally than any biography I can bring to mind. What a delightful family to read about — what a difficult family to belong to. Ellen's mother was a veritable Becky Sharpe, without her wisdom, and the ups and downs of the various branches of the family make a grand story. It is my pick of the Spring biographical material for sheer entertainment value — and Daphne du Maurier is a gifted story teller, and makes no bones about the shortcomings of her own forebears, albeit she does it with a sympathetic — at times a tender — touch. Sell to everyone who liked Gerald; and then turn about and sell Gerald to everyone who likes this.