By chance, John and Jean -- one English, the other French -- meet in a provincial railway station. Their resemblance to each other is uncanny, and they spend the next few hours talking and drinking - until at last John falls into a drunken stupor. It's to be his last carefree moment, for when he wakes, Jean has stolen his identity and disappeared. So the Englishman steps into the Frenchman's shoes, and faces a variety of perplexing roles - as owner of a chateau, director of a failing business, head of a fractious family, and master of nothing.
Gripping and complex, The Scapegoat is a masterful exploration of doubling and identity, and of the dark side of the self.
"A dazzlingly clever and immensely entertaining novel."-New York Times
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"Thoroughly ingenious and inventive story of an Englishman, John, who meets his double, a French aristocrat, who decides to let John take over his life. John, when he arrives at the chateau, finds complicated family relationships and a failing family business, a glass foundry. Jean's character is very different from John's, and what begins as a game becomes something much more serious and destructive. [Oct 2004]"
— Helen (5 out of 5 stars)
" It was well written, and an interesting story, but the pacing was kind of slow. (And the print was waay to small! :) ) "
— Jennifer, 2/17/2014" I read this years ago and really enjoyed it. The recent drama on TV was brilliant, too! "
— Judie, 2/14/2014" As I expected, a beautifully written tale, but it didn't engross me as much as some of her other novels. Maybe it was because my reading time has been limited over the last week so have only managed, sometimes, a few paragraphs at a time. I didn't warm to any of the main characters who were all damaged in some way. Having read the book I can now watch the film that I recorded a while ago. "
— Brenda, 2/8/2014" Almost unbelievable, but well writen and draws you in immediately. "
— Steven, 2/6/2014" Absolutely gripped from page one and didn't want it to end. Intrigued by the inter-character relationships and the final outcome. "
— Andrea, 2/5/2014" Absolutely loved this book, a real page turner. Up to now I thought Rebecca was her best book but not any more. "
— Linda, 1/25/2014" What a well-written, enjoyable find. This novel will certainly not disappoint. "
— Tracee, 1/19/2014" An oldie but goodie. She takes no easy exits and confirms a favorite theory of mine -- no one is either all black or all white. "
— Sally, 1/19/2014" Could not put this one down - heartily recommend. "
— Chris, 1/4/2014" Now this is a creative writer-- not perhaps an enjoyable book, but certainly not what you'd expect (and it would be interesting to try to write the sequel?) What struck me most of all-- when in doubt, just go ahead and tell the truth. "
— Elizabeth, 12/30/2013" Daphne du Maurier was a writer par excellence. I read this book in high school and read it again as an adult and now 40 some years after my first time, did it again. She did not disappoint. While the plot was implausible, she, nevertheless, had me believing every word. "
— Lorraine, 12/5/2013Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989) was born in London, the daughter of the actor Sir Gerald du Maurier and granddaughter of the author and artist George du Maurier. She has been called one of the great shapers of popular culture and the modern imagination. She began writing in 1928, and many of her bestselling novels were set in Cornwall, where she lived for most of her life. Besides novels, du Maurier wrote plays, biographies, and several collections of short fiction. Among her more famous works are The Scapegoat, Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, and the short story “The Birds,” all of which were subsequently made into films, the latter three directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Paul Shelley trained at RADA and has mainly worked in the theater as a classical actor. He has worked extensively with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company and has appeared in several West End productions. His work for television includes Secret Army, Special Branch, Blake’s 7, A Tale of Two Cities, Doctor Who, Inspector Morse, and Crossroads.