The Scapegoat Ebook: Where to Find and Read Daphne Du Maurier's Thrilling Novel for Free
Daphne Du Maurier The Scapegoat Ebook Download
If you are looking for a captivating and suspenseful novel to read, you might want to check out The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier. This classic mystery novel was published in 1957 and has been adapted into two films, one starring Alec Guinness and Bette Davis in 1959, and another starring Matthew Rhys in 2012. In this article, we will tell you more about Daphne Du Maurier, the author of The Scapegoat, what the novel is about, why you should read it, and how you can download the ebook version for free.
Daphne Du Maurier The Scapegoat Ebook Download
Who is Daphne Du Maurier and what is The Scapegoat about?
Daphne Du Maurier was a British novelist, short story writer, and playwright who lived from 1907 to 1989. She is best known for her Gothic novels such as Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, and The Birds, which have been adapted into successful films by Alfred Hitchcock and others. She also wrote historical fiction, biographies, memoirs, and travel books.
The Scapegoat is one of her most intriguing novels, which explores the themes of identity, fate, family, and morality. It tells the story of John, an English lecturer in French history who is on holiday in France. He meets Jean de Gué, a French count who looks and sounds exactly like him. Jean gets John drunk, swaps identities with him, and disappears, leaving John to deal with Jean's complicated financial and family problems. John tries to help Jean's family, but soon discovers that Jean has a dark past and a sinister secret that could endanger them all.
Why should you read The Scapegoat?
There are many reasons why you should read The Scapegoat, such as:
It is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep you hooked until the end.
It is a psychological thriller that explores the nature of human identity and personality.
It is a historical novel that depicts the post-war France in vivid detail.
It is a moral drama that challenges the reader to question their own values and choices.
It is a literary masterpiece that showcases Daphne Du Maurier's skillful storytelling and elegant prose.
How can you download The Scapegoat ebook for free?
If you are interested in reading The Scapegoat, you might want to download the ebook version for free. However, before you do that, you should be aware of the legal and ethical issues of ebook piracy, the sources and methods of ebook download, and the tips and precautions for ebook download. We will discuss these topics in the next sections.
A brief biography of Daphne Du Maurier
Early life and education
Daphne Du Maurier was born on May 13, 1907, in London, England. She was the second daughter of Sir Gerald Du Maurier, a famous actor and manager, and Muriel Beaumont, an actress and writer. She had two sisters, Angela and Jeanne, who also became writers. She grew up in a creative and artistic environment, surrounded by books, theatre, and celebrities. She was educated at home by governesses until she was 16, when she attended Miss Timson's School in Bournemouth. She then went to finishing school in Paris for a year.
Literary career and achievements
Daphne Du Maurier began writing stories and poems at an early age. Her first published work was a short story called The Progress of Julius in 1927. Her first novel, The Loving Spirit, was published in 1931 and received positive reviews. She then wrote several novels and short stories that established her reputation as a popular and versatile writer. Some of her most famous works include:
Rebecca (1938), a Gothic romance that won the National Book Award and was adapted into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940.
Jamaica Inn (1936), a historical adventure that was also adapted into a film by Hitchcock in 1939.
My Cousin Rachel (1951), a psychological mystery that was adapted into a film starring Olivia de Havilland and Richard Burton in 1952.
The Birds (1952), a horror story that inspired Hitchcock's film of the same name in 1963.
The Scapegoat (1957), a novel that we have discussed earlier.
Daphne Du Maurier also wrote plays, such as The Years Between (1945) and September Tide (1948), biographies, such as Gerald: A Portrait (1934) and The Glass-Blowers (1963), memoirs, such as The Rebecca Notebook (1981) and Growing Pains (1977), and travel books, such as Vanishing Cornwall (1967) and The House on the Strand (1969). She received many awards and honors for her work, such as the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1977 and the Order of the British Empire in 1969.
Personal life and death
Daphne Du Maurier married Frederick Browning, a military officer, in 1932. They had three children: Tessa, Flavia, and Christian. They lived in various places, such as London, Alexandria, Cairo, and Cornwall. Daphne Du Maurier had a complex and unconventional personal life. She had several affairs with both men and women, such as Ellen Doubleday, Gertrude Lawrence, Arthur Quiller-Couch, and Tom Driberg. She also struggled with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and writer's block. She died on April 19, 1989, at the age of 81, from old age and pneumonia. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered near her home in Cornwall.
A summary and analysis of The Scapegoat
Plot overview
The Scapegoat is divided into three parts: The Meeting, The Impostor, and The Return. Here is a brief summary of each part:
The Meeting: John meets Jean de Gué in Le Mans. They drink together and John falls asleep. Jean swaps identities with John and leaves him with his chauffeur Gaston.
Main characters and themes
The main characters of The Scapegoat are John and Jean, the two lookalikes who swap identities. John is a lonely and depressed Englishman who feels that his life is meaningless and empty. He has no family, friends, or passion. He teaches French history but has no interest in it. He is bored and restless, looking for a change. Jean is a selfish and arrogant Frenchman who has a lot of problems and enemies. He has a failing glass business, a pregnant wife, a young daughter, a brother, a sister, a mother, and two mistresses. He is hated and despised by his family and associates. He is greedy and ruthless, looking for an escape.
The main themes of The Scapegoat are identity, fate, family, and morality. The novel explores the question of what makes a person who they are: their appearance, their name, their history, their personality, their choices, or their circumstances. It also examines the role of fate and chance in human lives: how a random encounter can change everything, how a small decision can have big consequences, how a twist of fate can reveal hidden truths. It also portrays the complexities and conflicts of family relationships: how love and hate can coexist, how secrets and lies can destroy trust, how loyalty and betrayal can affect bonds. It also challenges the moral values and judgments of the characters and the reader: how good and evil are not always clear-cut, how right and wrong are not always obvious, how justice and mercy are not always easy.
Critical reception and adaptations
The Scapegoat received mixed reviews when it was first published in 1957. Some critics praised it as a clever and original novel that showed Daphne Du Maurier's mastery of suspense and psychological insight. Others criticized it as a contrived and implausible novel that lacked credibility and depth. Some readers found it fascinating and thrilling, while others found it confusing and disappointing.
The Scapegoat has been adapted into two films: one in 1959 directed by Robert Hamer and starring Alec Guinness as John/Jean and Bette Davis as Jean's mother; and another in 2012 directed by Charles Sturridge and starring Matthew Rhys as John/Jean and Eileen Atkins as Jean's mother. Both films made some changes to the original novel, such as the setting, the names, the dates, and the ending. The 1959 film was more faithful to the novel than the 2012 film, which added some subplots and characters that were not in the book.
A guide to download The Scapegoat ebook for free
Legal and ethical issues of ebook piracy
Before you download The Scapegoat ebook for free, you should be aware of the legal and ethical issues of ebook piracy. Ebook piracy is the unauthorized copying, distribution, or downloading of ebooks without paying for them or obtaining permission from the authors or publishers. Ebook piracy is illegal in many countries and can result in fines or imprisonment for offenders. Ebook piracy is also unethical because it violates the intellectual property rights of the authors or publishers who created the ebooks. Ebook piracy also harms the authors or publishers financially by reducing their sales and revenues.
Therefore, you should respect the rights of the authors or publishers of The Scapegoat ebook by paying for it or borrowing it from a library or a friend. You should also avoid downloading The Scapegoat ebook from illegal or unreliable sources that may contain viruses or malware that could damage your device or compromise your privacy.
Sources and methods of ebook download
If you still want to download The Scapegoat ebook for free, you should look for legal or legitimate sources that offer free ebooks for various reasons, such as promotion, education, or public domain. Some examples of such sources are:
Project Gutenberg: This is a website that offers over 60,000 free ebooks that are in the public domain because their copyrights have expired or have been waived by their authors or publishers. You can find The Scapegoat ebook on Project Gutenberg here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63662.
Open Library: This is a website that offers over 20 million free ebooks that are either in the public domain or have been donated by libraries or publishers. You can find The Scapegoat ebook on Open Library here: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL152412W/The_Scapegoat.
ManyBooks: This is a website that offers over 50,000 free ebooks that are either in the public domain or have been licensed by their authors or publishers for free distribution. You can find The Scapegoat ebook on ManyBooks here: https://manybooks.net/titles/maurierdother10scapegoat.html.
To download The Scapegoat ebook from these sources, you need to follow these steps:
Visit the website and search for The Scapegoat ebook by typing the title or the author's name in the search box.
Select the ebook from the search results and click on the download button or link.
Choose the format of the ebook that is compatible with your device, such as PDF, EPUB, MOBI, or TXT.
Save the ebook file to your device or open it with an ebook reader app.
Enjoy reading The Scapegoat ebook for free.
Tips and precautions for ebook download
To ensure a safe and smooth ebook download, you should follow these tips and precautions:
Check the source of the ebook before downloading it. Make sure it is legal, legitimate, and reputable. Avoid sources that are illegal, suspicious, or unknown.
Check the quality of the ebook before downloading it. Make sure it is complete, accurate, and readable. Avoid ebooks that are incomplete, incorrect, or unreadable.
Check the format of the ebook before downloading it. Make sure it is compatible with your device and your ebook reader app. Avoid formats that are incompatible or unsupported.
Check the size of the ebook before downloading it. Make sure it is reasonable and not too large or too small. Avoid ebooks that are too large or too small for your device or your internet connection.
Check the security of your device and your internet connection before downloading the ebook. Make sure they are protected by antivirus software and firewall. Avoid downloading ebooks from unsecured or public networks or devices.
A recap of the main points and a call to action
In this article, we have discussed Daphne Du Maurier's The Scapegoat, a classic mystery novel that tells the story of two lookalikes who swap identities and face unexpected consequences. We have also told you more about Daphne Du Maurier, the author of The Scapegoat, her life, her career, and her achievements. We have also given you a guide to download The Scapegoat ebook for free, along with the legal and ethical issues of ebook piracy, the sources and methods of ebook download, and the tips and precautions for ebook download.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article and learned something new and interesting. If you are interested in reading The Scapegoat, we encourage you to buy or borrow the ebook from a legal or legitimate source and support the author and publisher of this wonderful novel. Alternatively, you can watch one of the film adaptations of The Scapegoat and compare it with the original novel. Either way, we are sure you will have a great time reading or watching this captivating and suspenseful story.
FAQs about Daphne Du Maurier The Scapegoat Ebook Download
Here are some frequently asked questions about Daphne Du Maurier The Scapegoat Ebook Download:
Q: Is The Scapegoat based on a true story?A: No, The Scapegoat is not based on a true story. It is a fictional novel that was inspired by Daphne Du Maurier's imagination and research.
or problems. In the novel, John becomes the scapegoat for Jean's crimes and troubles, while Jean tries to escape from his responsibilities and guilt.
Q: How does The Scapegoat end?A: The novel ends with a confrontation between John and Jean at the glass foundry. Jean tries to kill John and make it look like an accident, but John fights back and manages to escape. Jean is killed by a blast of molten glass that falls on him. John returns to the château and tells the truth to the family. They accept him as their new head and he decides to stay with them.
Q: How does the 2012 film differ from the novel?A: The 2012 film differs from the novel in several ways, such as:
The setting is changed from France to England.
The names of some characters are changed, such as Jean de Gué to Johnny Spence and Françoise to Frances.
The dates are changed from 1957 to 1952.
The ending is changed. In the film, John does not kill Jean, but leaves him alive and wounded. He also does not tell the truth to the family, but pretends to be Jean and leaves with Frances and Marie-Noel.
Some subplots and characters are added, such as Charlotte's romance with Paul, Nina's pregnancy, and Bela's son.
Q: Where can I find more information about Daphne Du Maurier and her works?A: You can find more information about Daphne Du Maurier and her works on these websites:
Daphne Du Maurier Official Website: https://www.dumaurier.org/
Daphne Du Maurier Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_du_Maurier
Daphne Du Maurier Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10388.Daphne_du_Maurier
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