The Housekeeper

'She lifted me high, high up into another world, and then let me fall . . . Daphne du Maurier stole my life.'

A dramatic story of forbidden love, from enduring bestseller Rose Tremain

Mrs Danowski – known as Danni – is the housekeeper of a grand mansion on the wild coast of Cornwall. When glamorous young writer Daphne du Maurier visits Manderville Hall to research her new novel, she and Danni are drawn into a clandestine and intoxicating affair.

For Danni, it is an all-consuming love; for Daphne a submission to long-suppressed desires. But their fragile secret is vulnerable to prying eyes and destined for heartbreak. When Daphne’s novel launches to triumphant success, Danni is distraught to find herself transformed into a malign and jealous character on the page. She seeks respite from the hurt by telling her own story: The Housekeeper.

What unforeseen encounters, what forbidden feelings can inspire a writer? With flair and panache, Rose Tremain has invented the story of how a great novel of the past came into being and in turn creates a masterwork of her own.

‘A sweeping, atmospheric story of forbidden love, power and privilege’ ERIN KELLY

‘Exquisitely drawn, poignant and devastating’ STACEY HALLS

‘An absolute masterclass’ CLAIRE LYNCH

© Rose Tremain 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026