Du Mauriers Just as They Were

The Du Mauriers, Just As They Were, is a novel that tells the story of five generations of a remarkable family, beginning with Mathurin-Robert Busson, a master glassblower who immigrated to London in 1789 and became a 'gentleman glassblower. His three English-born children relocated to the continent, becoming a doctor of philology, a governess, and an aspiring inventor. George Du Maurier, the youngest, became a prominent Punch cartoonist and wrote and illustrated three popular semi-autobiographical novels. Daphne Du Maurier, his second daughter, published four volumes of family history, culminating in the extensively researched Glass-Blowers, which revealed her French forebears' aristocratic imposture for the first time.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2018
Publisher: Unicorn Publishing Group

The Du Mauriers, Just As They Were, delves into the captivating tale of five generations of an extraordinary family, commencing with Mathurin-Robert Busson, a skilled glassblower who immigrated to London in 1789, adopted the surname 'Du Maurier,' and elevated himself to the status of a 'gentleman glassblower.' His three children, born in England, pursued diverse paths: one became a doctor of philology in Hamburg, another served as a governess to the daughters of a Portuguese statesman, and the third, George Du Maurier, embarked on a journey of artistic exploration, studying chemistry in London before delving into the beaux-arts in Paris, Antwerp, and Düsseldorf. Eventually, he settled in London, establishing himself as a beloved Punch cartoonist. In his later years, George Du Maurier authored and illustrated three immensely popular semi-autobiographical novels. Among his offspring, the youngest, Gerald Du Maurier, rose to prominence as an accomplished actor-manager, while Gerald's second daughter, Daphne Du Maurier, followed in her father's literary footsteps, becoming a renowned novelist. Throughout her career, Daphne published four volumes of family history, culminating in the extensively researched Glass-Blowers, which unveiled her French forebears' aristocratic imposture for the first time. Daphne found a connection with her Victorian grandfather, sharing his love for France and a deep fascination with family history. However, she was intrigued by his first book, Peter Ibbetson, which portrayed their ancestors as aristocrats. The reason behind this portrayal is intricate, highly revealing, and would have undoubtedly come as a surprise to her.

Weight: 726g
Dimension: 244 x 174 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911604099