Daphne du Maurier (1907-89) began writing short stories and articles in 1928, and achieved widespread recognition in 1931 with her first novel, The Loving Spirit. A biography and three other novels followed, including Jamaica Inn, but it was her 1938 novel Rebecca that catapulted du Maurier into international fame. An instant bestseller, it made her one of the most popular authors of her day and was adapted into an acclaimed film by Alfred Hitchcock. When she died in 1989, she left behind a remarkable literary legacy, and remains one of the most influential and beloved authors of the twentieth century.