Probably my favourite collection of short stories I've read in ages. Daphne du Maurier can do no wrong!

I have been a fan of Du Maurier for many years and yet based largely on *Rebecca* alone. In recent years I have started to read more, and have been delighted that the beautiful prose rings true. In *Frenchmen's Creek* there may be a paucity of plot, and a wonderful surfeit of language. So, I came to this with a suspicion that this might be more about plot and twists, and maybe less the prose. I am delighted to say that not only the plots and twists are well crafted, but the prose is tailored to the characters class and viewpoint. The overall effect is despairing in the *Birds*, mystical and ethereal in the wonderful *Monte Verità*. There is a creepy confluence of unreliable witness, mood and nature in 'The Apple Tree'. I liked the hot dreamlike summer tale of the Marquise in 'The Little Photographer', and whilst I found *The Old Man* quite lightweight, it rounds out the collection well.
With an interesting *Introduction* this is a tome of an accomplished author delivering tasty morsels.
Recommended.

Daphne du Maurier's work is classic for a reason. Her literary fiction doesn't really need much introduction. She was master of the gothic, understated, dark, psychological thriller that creeps up on you with a sense of dread and subtle, rising horror. This set of 6 short stories is no different, the most well-known being the title story, and Hitchcock film of the same name (which I confess I haven't seen).

The Birds - this was one of my 2 favourite stories in the book. A sinister story about just how fragile humans could be if part of nature ever desired to wage war against humankind. How quickly would we react, what would we do to protect what we loved and needed. Brilliant, dark, chilling story.

Monte Verita - this was quite a long story, and puzzled me for a good section of it, but in the end yes I liked this one. Love, finding ones place in the world, the nature of humankind to want to belong or challenge what we don't understand, the reaction to that and the price of difference.

The Apple Tree - a quirky story about an apple tree growing outside a man's house who has just lost his wife of many years. A dark reflection of responsibility in relationships.

The Little Photogragher - this was my least favourite. A marquise who is bored with her life of luxury and her children embarks on an affair.

Kiss Me Again, Stranger - a man has a chance meeting with a girl who sparks his interest. An interesting story of obsession and consequences with a dark sting in the tail.

The Old Man - this was my other favourite. A short story that is very cleverly written and I really enjoyed this one.

Overall a wonderful, thought-provoking collection of psychological thrillers, chilling atmospheres, and unsettling observances of human nature.

An absolute treat to re-read after all this time. Daphne Du Maurier never disappoints! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

I have always loved old movies including The Birds ... I couldn't wait to read the short story that inspired it. I wasn't disappointed. It was so good. Different but good. I also enjoyed the other short stories. Some more than others, but definitely will worth a read. Such a great author with spooky mysterious stories that you will never forget!

As always with short story collections, some of the stories were better than others but overall I really enjoyed them all. Daphne Du Maurier creates a dark atmosphere that keeps you reading and it was nice to have access to more of her stories.

Thanks to netgalley for a free preview read.

The Birds and Other Stories is a gothic short story collection which explores the power of nature and mans' helplessness in the face of it. All the stories delve into the darkness of the human psyche and overall an extremely creepy, chilling atmosphere is created. This collection contains The Birds and five other short stories.

The Birds: The plot of this story revolves around the premise of the birds turning on people and beginning to attack them and their homes. This story was terrifying but in the best way possible. I thought the pacing was great and this story felt like it was the perfect length. 5 stars.

Monte Verita: This story centers around a convent which is based at the summit of Monte Verita. Overall this was my least favourite of the collection as I found it slightly too long and quite long winded in places. I thought the central premise was interesting and I enjoyed the ended. 3 stars

The Apple Tree: In this story a man's wife, who he neglected throughout her life, comes back to haunt him in the form of an apple tree. I loved this story and thought the symbolism throughout was incredible. The premise sounds ridiculous but Du Maurier pulls it off and I think this was my favourite story in the collection! 5 stars

The Little Photographer: In this story a marquise finds herself getting bored of her dull, seemingly perfect life and embarks on an affair with a local photographer. This story had an amazing plot twist at the end however I think it dragged on slightly and became quite repetitive. 4 stars

Kiss Me Again Stranger: The plot of this story involves a man who meets an usherette at the cinema and for him it is love at first sight. The man's delusion and obsession was fascinating to read about and I thought this story flowed really well. The ending had a great twist which I didn't see coming. 5 stars

The Old Man: This story centres around an old man and his family, who live isolated by a lake, and their strange behaviour as observed by a stranger. The atmosphere created throughout this story was incredibly eerie and foreboding. The build up of tension was amazing for such a short story. 4 stars

As always with short story collections, some of the stories were better than others so I did find it difficult to give this an overall rating. I really enjoyed the atmosphere that Du Maurier creates and will definitely be reading more of her work.

I'm fairly new to reading Daphne du Maurier, obviously I've seen the classic films. An as avid reader of contemporary psychological thrillers I'm keen to learn more around the roots. I read Rebecca quite recently, wanting to learn more about its lasting influence on the genre.

This collection features The Birds and five other short stories. They are big on atmosphere, eeriness and malevolence. The pacer is slower and steady, building up the tension to some dark denouements, more about reveals or realisations than big twists.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. The stories are from simpler times, du Maurier's writing is timeless and they definitely don't feel dated.

Thank to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK

Wonderful selection of short stories; the Birds is the most well known thanks to the Hitchcock film, but arguably the story here that inspired that classic is even more chilling.
The other stories carry a sense of threat and often a theme of mortality - whether the mysterious mountain of Monte Verita, the brilliant suspense of the Little Photographer, or the haunting of a widower by an apple tree.
I’ve read Rebecca in the past, but these stories set du Maurier in a new light for me.

Daphne Du Maurier's "The Birds and Other Stories" is a haunting exploration of alienation and the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world. The titular story, famously adapted by Hitchcock, presents a terrifying scenario of nature turning against mankind, resonating with a sense of impending doom. The collection's diversity shines through in tales like "Monte Verità," which delves into the pursuit of immortality with sinister consequences, and "The Apple Tree," a poetic and chilling narrative of a neglected wife haunting her husband.

"The Little Photographer" blurs the boundaries between observer and observed, challenging notions of control and voyeurism, while "Kiss Me Again, Stranger" offers a poignant story of love at first sight with unexpected twists. "The Old Man" adds a touch of oddity, rounding out the collection with well-executed storytelling.

Du Maurier's ability to infuse supernatural elements into everyday life, coupled with her evocative prose, creates a timeless collection that captivates readers. Each story, rich in atmosphere and psychological insight, invites reflection on human nature and the unknown. "The Birds and Other Stories" is a must-read for those who appreciate the artistry of short fiction and the enduring power of Du Maurier's storytelling. The diverse themes and well-crafted narratives make this collection a compelling exploration of the inexplicable and the eerie beauty found within.

My impression is that there's a lot words about Daphne Du Maurier, about Manderley, Rebecca etc but it's like it's in a vacuum.
She was an author that wrote story mixing genre and The Birds, for instance, is one of the most disturbing novella I read.
This book was a good way to read new stories or re-read other.
I hope that there will be more people reading these stories or My Cousin Rachel or Jamaica Inn.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Daphne Du Maurier's collection of short stories, "The Birds and Other Stories," is a masterful exploration of alienation, horror, and the fragile balance between humanity and the natural world. In these six tales, Du Maurier weaves a haunting tapestry that lingers in the reader's mind, showcasing her unparalleled skill in crafting atmospheric and thought-provoking narratives.

The eponymous story, "The Birds," serves as the anchor to the collection, immortalized by Hitchcock's cinematic adaptation. Du Maurier's prose evokes an eerie sense of dislocation as nature turns against mankind. The beating wings and the encroaching darkness create an atmosphere of impending doom, capturing the essence of horror and the unsettling idea that our assumed dominance over the natural world may be a fragile illusion.

The remaining stories in the collection continue to delve into themes of isolation, mortality, and the unpredictability of life. In "Monte Verità," Du Maurier explores the pursuit of immortality and the sinister consequences that may accompany such aspirations. The symbolism embedded in the narrative adds layers of depth, inviting readers to reflect on the price one might pay for eternal life.

The tale of a neglected wife haunting her husband in the form of an apple tree in "The Apple Tree" is both poetic and chilling. Du Maurier's ability to infuse supernatural elements into everyday life heightens the impact of the story, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

In "The Little Photographer," the author steps beyond the lens to explore the relationship between photographer and subject. The narrative takes a surreal turn as the boundaries between observer and observed blur, challenging notions of control and voyeurism.

Du Maurier's exploration of jealousy and its consequences takes centre stage in "The Old Man." The story presents a remedy to a father's jealousy that is both unsettling and thought-provoking, leaving the reader to grapple with the moral implications of the characters' actions.

"The Birds and Other Stories" showcases Du Maurier's versatility as a storyteller. The narratives are rich in atmosphere, with a blend of psychological insight and a touch of the supernatural. The author's prose is evocative, drawing readers into worlds where the line between reality and the fantastic is delicately blurred.

In conclusion, Daphne Du Maurier's "The Birds and Other Stories" is a timeless collection that continues to captivate readers with its exploration of human nature, the unknown, and the eerie beauty of the inexplicable. Each story is a gem, carefully crafted to elicit a range of emotions from its audience. This collection is a must-read for those who appreciate the artistry of short fiction and the enduring power of Du Maurier's storytelling.

I'd never read any of Daphne du Maurier's short stories (I thought I might have read The Birds before, but on reflection I don't think I had). Short stories can be a difficult form and tend to be hit or miss for me, but this collection was something of a revelation. I loved it.

The title story, The Birds, bears little relation, other than its title and the theme of birds attacking, to the Hitchcock film. It's a simple but terrifying story of nature turning on humanity, told from the point of view of farmworker Nat who tries to protect his family (his wife, known for some reason only as "Nat's wife", and two young children, who do at least have names - Jill and Johnnie) from the avian onslaught as society crumbles around them. The general sense of an unprecedented crisis, an external threat and an order to all to stay at home did have some additional resonance for the modern reader. As it was first published in 1952, I wonder if it was at least partly an allegory for other recent events - the idea of an aerial threat to safety seems quite on the nose.

The second story, Monte Verità, is a brilliant, haunting tale with a mystical tone. It's told by an unnamed male narrator who recounts what befell his friend, his friend's wife Anna (this one definitely has a name) and himself, on the geographically unspecified mountain of the title. It means, of course, the Mountain of Truth, but where does the truth really lie?

The Apple Tree has a very different feel, although also has a male narrator (unnamed, of course) and concerns a married couple. The narrator has little respect for his wife and when she dies, mourns only minimally, but finds her presence still persisting from beyond the grave.

The Little Photographer tells of a bored young wife and mother referred to only as the Marquise (what is it with Daphne and names?), holidaying in a French seaside resort. She forms a relationship of sorts with a local man, Monsieur Paul - the photographer of the title - though his main attraction for her is how passionately he admires her. She cares nothing for the man himself, but adores her reflection in his eyes and the devotion he shows. Of course, it all gets a bit out of hand as the holiday draws to a close, and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (what are we to surmise from Édouard's comments about inherited disabilities?).

Kiss Me Again, Stranger is a perhaps slightly predictable but actually rather poignant story about a young man who falls in love at first sight with a cinema usherette, only to find things taking an unexpected turn.

The final story, The Old Man, is a little bit of an oddity, but well executed.

I'm not sure of the point of David Thomson's introduction about du Maurier and Hitchcock - aside from a few references to The Birds, it has little relevance to the stories here. (I also didn't appreciate Mitchell Leisen's comments about the fabulous Frenchman's Creek! - book, not film.) I'd far rather have read something discussing her as a short story writer and comments on the stories and their themes.

Ultimately these are very well written and entertaining "long" short stories, but there are also some interesting observations/themes around gender roles - I feel Monte Verità particularly bears analysis here, but some of the other stories are also very relevant to discussion.

I enjoyed this collection much more than I expected to - highly recommended.

This is a testament to the enduring power of great literature that it evolves with you as you age. And indeed, my perspective on these stories has shifted considerably, given my current, more mature vantage point.

This classic compilation of tales delves deep into the human psyche, revealing unsettling truths about our perception of reality. Each story leaves you with a lingering sense of unease, as if there's an underlying layer of existence that remains hidden until you're ready to confront it. It's a reminder that there's always more beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.

As I delved back into these narratives, I couldn't help but notice themes and nuances that had eluded me during my first reading as a teenager. Take, for instance, "The Birds." It's intriguing to pick up on what seems like a definite bisexual undertone in the main character, a layer of complexity that Hitchcock, perhaps unintentionally, included in his film adaptation. This newfound understanding adds depth and richness to the story, showcasing how literature can offer fresh insights when viewed through a different lens.

What strikes me most about this collection is its timeless relevance. These tales, crafted by a master of the genre, continue to resonate and provoke thought, regardless of one's age or life experience. They invite readers to question the boundaries of reality, explore the depths of the human condition, and confront the unsettling aspects of existence.

Revisiting these stories during the spooky season has been a delightful and thought-provoking experience. It serves as a testament to the enduring power of classic literature to adapt and evolve with its readers, providing new layers of understanding and appreciation with each encounter. This collection remains a must-read for those seeking to delve into the enigmatic world of gothic and weird fiction, offering a journey that is both haunting and intellectually stimulating.

Daphne Du Maurier is one of the greatest story tellers of the 20th century. These short stories will not disappoint. Forget Hitchcock's modified film I urge you to read her original text. Short but really scary. All her short stories are genius and definately before her time. When you have read and enjoyed these stories do read The Doll.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I am a huge Du Maurier fan but I had never read this collection of short stories before. I know The Birds of course, but only as the Alfred Hitchcock film, the short story is so much better than the film. It is very dark and intense and placed in a lonely Cornish setting rather than California, so suspenseful and unsettling.
The Apple Tree is very eerie as a man can’t stop seeing the resemblance of his dead wife and an apple tree in his garden. The man is consumed by his wish to blame his wife for the faults in their marriage and feelings of guilt.
The other stories are just as good, all with a slightly disquieting and creepy feel, ideal for reading on a dark autumn night.

When I was in year eight English my brilliant, eccentric English teacher--whose best and worst trait was that she tended to overestimate our intelligence and maturity--picked du Maurier's Rebecca as a study text for us. It was my most virulently hated book for about the next decade, and I'd rant about it at length given the smallest excuse. This year, a bit older and wiser, after a friend sent me a snippet and I was blown away by the prose, I decided to revisit Rebecca. Shockingly, it read very differently to a woman in her thirties rather than a kid in her thirteen-s: I adored it, couldn't think of anything else for weeks, and had been eager ever since to get my hands on some more du Maurier. So I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to request and review this little collection of her short stories through NetGalley--and I can say it's cemented du Maurier as one of my favourites.

Each story in this volume is exquisite. Du Maurier's prose is stunning throughout, shifting seamlessly in voice and floridity depending on the needs of the particular story. Her command of tension and atmosphere is masterful; there is a delicious darkness and uneasiness running through the whole collection. But what really struck home, and was in keeping with my experience of Rebecca, is just how much she loves to dig deep into the human psyche with all its complexity--its strength, its darkness, its tenderness, its cruelty. In many ways each story in The Birds is a character study: sometimes of the narrator, sometimes of someone else, with the narrator very cleverly chosen to focus our narrative lens in a particular way, often of both. I particularly loved the middle four stories for their common theme of I Support Women's Wrongs (another carry-over from Rebecca), and the way the 'female gaze' was apparent even when (especially when) the narrator was male. Monte Verita and especially The Apple Tree were probably my two favourites of the collection, and largely for this reason: for both stories I could imagine a version of themselves written by a male author, and it was very interesting imagining how the narrative lens and subtext would shift.

I'll definitely be revisiting this collection, as well as hunting down more of du Maurier's works going forward. A big thanks to Little, Brown UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to deepen my love of this truly remarkable author!

Superb! A master at work. I used to have all of Daphne Du Maurier's short story collections but they got lost and given to charity over the years with various house moves. So I knew the stories were good but to be honest I had forgotten just how compelling these stories are. Short stories seem to have fallen out of fashion somewhat but they make for great bedtime and lunchtime reads. Collections of short stories are often a mixed bag with many lacking but this collection has no dead weight. Some stories resonated with me more than others but I enjoyed every single one.

The Birds is the best known story due to the famous Hitchcock film which was based very loosely on this tale. I would urge you to read the original story in this collection. It is much more sinister, dark and brooding and very creepy. So much better than the film. All the stories in this book are unsettling and you just know things will not end well. I read each one with a creeping sense of dread despite some having idyllic, sunny locations. It was wonderful to snuggle up with this collection, cozy inside my house during a recent storm as the wind and rain lashed my window panes. The other stories in this collection apart form The Birds are Monte Verita, The Apple Tree, The Little Photogragher, Kiss Me Again, Stranger and The Old Man. I particularly liked The Apple Tree and The Little Photographer.

Six short stories, all perfectly formed and very different.

As a big DDM fan, I have read and reread her books over the years, and some of these are old favourites. One of the greatest storytellers of our time, she never fails to appeal. Clean, crisp and very acute, these stories are a masterclass in how to tell a tale. The words flow beautifully and the descriptive prose is a joy. Most importantly they leave you wanting to read more.

Thank you NetGalley.

Since this is a collection I’m going to give this an overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars but also rate each of the stories individually.

Thank you to NetGalley and little brown book publishing for giving me this copy to read.

What I loved about these stories is that they all have potential for people to gather individual options over the characters and their stories. Each story is unique yet has such horrifying and haunting elements to it. Definitely a perfect spooky collection and I’m so glad I finally read it!

The birds
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Nat listened to the tearing sound of splintering wood, and wondered how many million years of memory were stored in those little brains, behind the stabbing beaks, the piercing eyes, now giving them this instinct to destroy mankind with all the deft precision of machines!’

Terrifying, I’ve never been one who is scared of birds but after reading this story I completely understand how they hold the potential to be something from a nightmare. They are such delicate and regal creatures but if their instincts changed and they chose to fight against us, the havoc and power they could possess is so frightening.

Monte verità

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘As the moon rose, the man that climbed with it shrank to insignificance. I was no longer aware of personal identity. This shell, in which I had my being, moved forward without feeling, drawn to the summit of the mountain by some nameless force which seemed to hold suction from the moon itself.’

I found this story very interesting and thought provoking. It made me consider the strength and beauty of nature being its own force and how in comparison we are at its mercy if it wants to claim us. But more importantly that it is up to us whether we wish to surrender ourselves to nature or remain boxed off in our civilisations. The lure and spectacles around Monte Verità made it so magical yet eerie, yet I still find myself wanting to find my own Monte Verità. That being said, du Maurier raises the concept that even paradise has its flaws and diseases, so it is really something we should idolise? It definitely gave me similar vibes to du Maurier’s ‘my cousin Rachel’ which I also loved and I wonder if writing that helped to inspire this since they were released within a year of one another.

The apple tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Death should be different. It should be like bidding farewell to someone at a station before a long journey, but without the strain.’

This story dives into marital struggles and the impact of infidelity. It follows a man who is settling into life following the death of his wife however, he starts to feel haunted by the presence of the old apple tree, symbolic of his wife. He wants desperately to destroy the tree to regain his peace. The presence of a younger more fruitful tree reminds him of his infidelity and guilt.

I found this story really interesting, it is clear the widower is doing his best to find fault and criticise his late wife but she consumes his thoughts and while he is critical he can’t help but remember all her daily tasks and quirks which he is maybe realising her value much too late. I think the story is about him realising his failures in his marriage and he is being filled with regret while trying to defect these feelings onto the deceased midge and is desperate to erase her from his thoughts to hide from his own guilt.

The little photographer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Life was one long sequence of resting, of getting up, and of resting again. Because with her pallor, with her reserve, they thought her delicate’

Since marrying Madam la Marquise has grown bored of her life,being consumed in her husbands world with his family, she longed for excitement and to meet new people. She wants admiration. She has a grand lifestyle yet has no fulfilment or excitement in it which leads her to an affair with a photographer. While that disrupts the monotony of her everyday life, it soon falls into her routine and loses its excitement leading her to feel incomplete once again. Soon the affair turns sour.

This story was fun another one where I both hated and liked the main character. I was rooting for her to fine some excitement in her monotonous life however her actions and choices were very self centred which swayed me away from liking her.

Kiss me again, stranger

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

‘They'd got her. About three o'clock in the afternoon. I didn't read the writing, nor the name nor anything. I sat down on my bed, and took up the paper, and there was my girl staring up at me from the front page.’

Starting this one I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. It felt like a ghost story yet had no ghosts. I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen but I was very wrong! The main character becomes enamoured with a woman he meets working at a movie theatre. The woman is mysterious and has lots of her own baggage. This one was interesting as du Maurier explores men’s perceptions of women following the war and how the war altered these perceptions. It was very thought provoking for such a short story while also having an interesting plot.

The old man

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘It was both a requiem and a benediction. An atonement, and a giving of praise. In their strange way they knew they had done evil, but now it was over, because I had buried Boy and he was gone.’

This one really caught me off guard in the best possible way. It was like having a chat with a new friend who is spilling some gossip and some dark gossip at that. The narrator tells the story of the old man, his wife and children as he watches them across a lake. At first it was a little creepy to see this persons fascination and fondness for the family. I don’t want to give it away but the story had me stressed, nervous, sad and frustrated. The plot twist I definitely didn’t see coming and it definitely enhanced the story making it my favourite from this collection and definitely a brilliant one to finish the collection with.