Rule Brittania

Rule Britannia is Daphne du Maurier's final novel—a prescient work of speculative fiction that imagines Britain withdrawing from the Common Market and, on the brink of bankruptcy, entering into a "partnership" with the United States that looks increasingly like an occupation. Emma wakes one morning to find no post, no telephone, no radio, and American soldiers advancing across the fields toward the house she shares with Mad, her grandmother and once-famous actress.

What begins as domestic mystery rapidly escalates into a story of resistance, as Emma, Mad, and their network of friends and family in Cornwall mount an increasingly bold opposition to what they perceive as a foreign takeover. Du Maurier brings her trademark suspense to this political parable, creating a tense narrative that explores questions of national identity, sovereignty, and the price of independence.

Written during Britain's tumultuous relationship with Europe in the early 1970s, the novel feels eerily relevant to contemporary debates about Brexit, nationalism, and international alliances. While not du Maurier's most celebrated work (that honor belongs to Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, and My Cousin Rachel), it offers a fascinating glimpse into her political imagination and her deep attachment to Cornwall, where she lived most of her adult life.

This one is a Book Club Edition from the 1970s. We have other du Maurier titles in the our shop in Roscoe, NY so make sure to reach out if you're searching for another title.