The Parasites
Published on 24. July 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-0-349-01940-6 (ISBN)
Description
FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA
'A riveting, unnerving literary page-turner' THE TIMES
'Wickedly readable . . . every woman instinctively wants to read her' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
'A tale of dramatic longings . . . unexpected and fun' MARGARET DRABBLE
***
It was Charles who called us the parasites . . .
No one would choose the Delaneys as their ideal guests. Vain Maria, capricious Niall and self-sacrificing Celia have grown up in the shadow of their famous parents, ferried around Europe from one performance to the next. But beneath the glittering surface of their own artistic careers, old loyalties, rivalries and secrets still bind the half-siblings together - at the expense of all outsiders.
A razor-sharp portrait of a family - and the world of the theatre - The Parasites weaves together humour, poignancy and darkness in one of du Maurier's most personal novels.
'One of the last century's most original literary talents' DAILY TELEGRAPH
' Somehow more personal than Daphne du Maurier's other novels' KIRKUS REVIEWS
'A riveting, unnerving literary page-turner' THE TIMES
'Wickedly readable . . . every woman instinctively wants to read her' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
'A tale of dramatic longings . . . unexpected and fun' MARGARET DRABBLE
***
It was Charles who called us the parasites . . .
No one would choose the Delaneys as their ideal guests. Vain Maria, capricious Niall and self-sacrificing Celia have grown up in the shadow of their famous parents, ferried around Europe from one performance to the next. But beneath the glittering surface of their own artistic careers, old loyalties, rivalries and secrets still bind the half-siblings together - at the expense of all outsiders.
A razor-sharp portrait of a family - and the world of the theatre - The Parasites weaves together humour, poignancy and darkness in one of du Maurier's most personal novels.
'One of the last century's most original literary talents' DAILY TELEGRAPH
' Somehow more personal than Daphne du Maurier's other novels' KIRKUS REVIEWS
Reviews / Votes
One of the last century's most original literary talents * Daily Telegraph * She wrote exciting plots, she was highly skilled at arousing suspense, and she was, too, a writer of fearless originality * Guardian * A novel about three step-siblings of complicated parentage, growing up wildly in a crazy Bohemian theatrical family, inspired by du Maurier's own . . . intriguing . . . captivating . . . [The Parasites] is unexpected, and fun, and one of her own favourites Quite different - and somehow more personal than Daphne du Maurier's other novels * Kirkus Reviews * Wickedly readable . . . Daphne du Maurier has instinct, with the result that every woman instinctively wants to read her * New York Times Book Review * A riveting, unnerving literary page-turner * The Times *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
272 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-349-01940-6 (9780349019406)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) was born in London, England. In 1931 her first novel, The Loving Spirit was published. A biography of her father and three other novels followed, but it was the novel Rebecca that launched her into the literary stratosphere and made her one of the most popular authors of her day. In 1932, du Maurier married Major Frederick Browning with whom she had three children.
Many of du Maurier's bestselling novels and short stories were adapted into award-winning films, including Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now. In 1969, du Maurier was awarded the Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE). She lived most of her life in Cornwall and died there which is the setting for many of her books.
Many of du Maurier's bestselling novels and short stories were adapted into award-winning films, including Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now. In 1969, du Maurier was awarded the Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE). She lived most of her life in Cornwall and died there which is the setting for many of her books.