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The Scapegoat

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The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier is a suspense thriller novel set in 1950s France, where an Englishman named John meets his double, a French aristocrat named Jean, and is forced to switch identities with him. As John navigates Jean's crumbling finances and complicated family dynamics, he uncovers a web of secrets, betrayals, and conflicts that challenge his sense of identity and commitment. The story unfolds with poetic prose, compelling plot twists, and subtle character development, culminating in an uncertain denouement that mirrors the complexities of real life.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, reflecting a mix of introspection, carelessness, and deep familial conflicts.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is descriptive and psychological, enhancing the exploration of identity through engaging prose.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around an unexpected identity switch between two lookalike men, leading to complicated family dynamics and personal revelations.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary post-war France, providing a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama.

Pacing:

Pacing is consistent, emphasizing character exploration with occasional suspenseful moments.
I left the car by the side of the cathedral, and then walked down the steps into the Place des Jacobins. It was still raining hard. It had not once let up since Tours, and all I had seen of the countr...

Notes:

The plot revolves around John, an English lecturer, who meets his identical French doppelganger, Jean.
After a night of drinking, John wakes up to find Jean has stolen his identity and belongings.
John is forced to take on the chaotic life of Jean, including managing a failing family business.
Jean has a troubled family, including a pregnant wife and a dominating mother.
John's ability to speak perfect French helps him convince Jean's family that he is indeed Jean.
The story explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the impact of one person's life on others.
The title 'The Scapegoat' suggests themes of blame and sacrifice, reflecting John's unintended role.
Many readers compare this book to du Maurier's more famous work 'Rebecca,' noting its psychological depth.
The novel is set in post-World War II France, adding a historical context to the characters' struggles.
Daphne du Maurier wrote the book in a frenetic six-month period, influencing its intense narrative style.

From The Publisher:

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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