Jamaica Inn - Daphne Du Maurier

...married to the landlord of Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor. It soon becomes clear that Jamaica Inn has a bad name and the locals are scared of the place, but Mary is a feisty, courageous young woman and vows not to be scared by her uncle, the notorious Joss Merlyn.

Jamaica Inn isn't your normal pub: there are no beds for weary travellers, it's rarely open and there's a barred room. The only activity comes in the night, when wagons come ...
...I'm delighted to say that Jamaica Inn is not one of them. The human side of the story is firmly etched in and just when you think it's going to slip into stereotype, the plot twists in a new direction. I was sure I'd guessed the ending at several points, but I was (thankfully) extremely wrong! It's as fresh and fast-paced as the day it was written, which I really didn't expect, and the writing is simply superb. Jamaica Inn is often viewed as a twentieth ... more

Mary Yellan has known much hardship in her life - her mother was widowed young and struggled running a farm for seventeen years until she died. Her dying wish was for Mary to seek hospitality with her Aunt Patience, who is married to the landlord of Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor. It soon becomes clear that Jamaica Inn has a bad name and the locals are scared of the place, but Mary is a feisty, courageous young woman and vows not to be scared by her uncle, the notorious Joss Merlyn.

Jamaica Inn isn't your normal pub: there are no beds for weary travellers, it's rarely open and there's a barred room. The only activity comes in the night, when wagons come into the yard and load or unload their sinister cargo. Mary is expected to act as barmaid in return for her uncle's hospitality and is shocked at what she finds: various characters of ill repute who get disgustingly drunk and the suggestion of a murder. It's soon obvious that her uncle is involved in a large smuggling ring, but there is no one that Mary can turn to and no neighbours for miles around. Besides, informing someone would be more than her life is worth…

The most enchanting thing about this novel is the atmosphere. Every page is saturated with both the isolation of the Inn and the oppression that Mary feels as she is forced to stay inside its walls. Du Maurier evokes the savagery and desolation of early nineteenth century Cornwall and the characters in all their terrible glory through her striking descriptions. I loved her portrayal of all the characters, from the downtrodden Aunt Patience to the horrifying Joss Merlyn, to the mysterious albino vicar in whom Mary seeks refuge. However, Mary stands out amongst them all as the strongest, the changes in her character are subtle and realistic and faithful to her personal feelings and ethics. It's also refreshing to find a strong female protagonist in a thriller, especially when her emotions are not sacrificed.

Throughout the novel, Mary questions her views and never knows who to trust. She has a friendship with Joss's brother, Jem, but she's unsure of whether or not to believe him when he says he's nothing like his brother and has never killed a man. As soon as she thinks she's got it sussed, something else happens to make her doubt the trust she places in Jem. Trouble is, he and the albino vicar are the closest things she has to confidants in this lonely, wild country. The terror Mary feels as she never knows who to turn to is depicted with startling power - Du Maurier has an ability to really tap into her readers' own fears and make them feel as the characters do. I was certainly on the edge of my seat at points!

Some thrillers lack substance, but I'm delighted to say that Jamaica Inn is not one of them. The human side of the story is firmly etched in and just when you think it's going to slip into stereotype, the plot twists in a new direction. I was sure I'd guessed the ending at several points, but I was (thankfully) extremely wrong! It's as fresh and fast-paced as the day it was written, which I really didn't expect, and the writing is simply superb. Jamaica Inn is often viewed as a twentieth century classic and it certainly deserves this praise, but I'd go further: it's a classic full stop. It's the best book I've read in ages.
 

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