The University of Exeter has loaned The Rebecca Notebook – the key
document that defended Daphne Du Maurier against plagiarism – to the British
Library for the major new Writing
Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands exhibition.
Obviously, this is some great publicity for archives and heritage collections at the Uni where Carrie and I currently work and study (and as regularly as possible try to champion the collections), and draws attention to the excellent Du Maurier holdings we have here.
The
notebook has been on public display along with other items such
as Du Maurier’s writing desk within Exeter’s recently revamped Research Commons.
The book was donated to Exeter in 2001 by Du Maurier’s children; it contains
draft material for her most famous novel Rebecca, and as such was used as
evidence in a plagiarism case launcehd against the writer in 1947, proving the authenticity of her authorship of the novel.
Obviously, this is some great publicity for archives and heritage collections at the Uni where Carrie and I currently work and study (and as regularly as possible try to champion the collections), and draws attention to the excellent Du Maurier holdings we have here.
The
notebook has been on public display along with other items such
as Du Maurier’s writing desk within Exeter’s recently revamped Research Commons.
The book was donated to Exeter in 2001 by Du Maurier’s children; it contains
draft material for her most famous novel Rebecca, and as such was used as
evidence in a plagiarism case launcehd against the writer in 1947, proving the authenticity of her authorship of the novel.
The
Notebook appears in a section of the exhibition that looks at how
writers are inspired by the rivers, seashores and other waterscapes of the
country, alongside some other regionally related mauscripts such as the Exeter Book from Exeter
Cathedral.
Christine Faunch, head of heritage collections
(and a speaker back at our original conference), said of the loan: “These
unique items are a fantastic resource for our students, who regularly consult
them for dissertations, and our academics. However, we are also committed to
sharing our historic documents with wider audiences.”
For full information (and further words from Chris), see Exeter’s news pages.
For more information on Writing Britain: Wastelands to
Wonderlands, click here.
