Evening star., 1940-02-18
Daphne Du Mourier Too Busy
To Write Book Already PIonned
Peace to Be Subject
Of Next Novel by
Author of 'Rebeccu'

HYTHE, Kent Correspondence oi
the Associated Press) War has
changed Novelist Daphne du Maur-
Ter into soldiers wife, Mrs. F. A. M
Browning, with an idea for new
book and little time or will to write
1t because it's to be about peace.
The young English author, who
wrote Of Cornish cleric who really
was shipwrecker in Jamaica Inn
and of a woman supposed to be per-
feet but who really wasn't in ''Re-
becca," Is convinced the postwar
she intends to put into her next
novel, If she ever gets around to it
won't be real peace but chaos.
War" said she, seems to me to
be a futile waste Of life and money
for destruction. I can't see how
things can help but be chaotic at the
end. It's too bad all this effort and
money can't be distributed around
to make everything better for every
one."
1t was showing Chicago blizzard
which had all but cut off the way
side coastal station her husband
commands that day when she con-
demned war.
Daughter in "Safe Area"
He was of on one Of the military
missions that keep him away most
OF the time from the tidy COM
mandant's house they occupy on q
hillside overlooking the Christmas
card village of Hythe. The two
Browning daughters were with Col
Browning's mother in a "safe area .
Mrs. Browning pushed two club
chairs close to the open coal fire
1t was a long time before the con-
versation got around to Miss du
Maurier. She's one of those indi-
viduals who interview their inter-
viewers.
What do they think of the war
in Fleet street? What do you Amer
leans think about it? I can't help
feeling that maybe your Mr.. Roose-
velt will suggest something toward
peace. Don't you think he might?
How long have you been in Eng
land? How long will you stay? Do
you know the woman who wrote
Gone With the Wind? loved it. !"
There were a lot of other questions
but she finally began answering a
few about her life in Hythe.
when my husband was sent to
this post I left our two children with
my mother-in-law and came on
down here. AS far as writing is con-
cerned I've been lazy. I have been
thinking over a novel I want to
write, but I can't seem to get start
ed. I keep putting it off,"
Helps Guardsmen's Families.
1t turned out that one reason she
was putting it off was that she's on
a committee to look after the FAM
lilies of about $50 Grenadier Guards
men, advise with them on their
problems, keep in touch with them
by mail, prepare for correspondence
which may become necessary when
the war begins to result in casualties
for the army.
She's also going to school in Hythe
learning how to be of use in case OF
air raids. Shes studying how to be
"gas decontaminator." It involves
undressing people contaminated by
blister gas, dipping them In bleach
baths.
Another reason why she doesn't
settle down to this new book, she
said, is the "day-to-day living with
out being able to plan ahead" that
war gets you into.
When Miss du Maurier starts to
write novel she doesn't like to be
interrupted.
II work at it like going to ar
Office. Usually I work from about 10
to l, have an hour for lunch and
then get at it again from 2 to 4
That way I can finish in about three
months. After 4 there were always
the children. Since I don't have
them here I really could get a lot
done if I just could get started. But
there are always interruptions and
I hate to write 1000 words and then
maybe not pick up the thing again
for week or 10 days"
Talks About Firms.
About the only writing she's done
recently have been the play for the
best seller, "Rebecca," something fol-
the Queens Red Cross Book anc
300-word contribution to Herbert
Hoover's compilation for the benefit
of the Firms.
She talked a lot about the Firms
thinks they're gallant, but Is afraid
they can't hold out.
There were many pictures on the
walls of sailing ships, motorboats
and the conversation swung tc
milder climates, sailing. The Brown
ings have sailboat and a little
motor cabin cruiser they spend q
lot Of time on when the weather's
reasonably good. Mrs. Browning
says she's not such good sailor but
likes it, that she's absent-minded
about handling sails to the annoy
ance of her husband, who isn't.
The Brownings, it seems, had been
getting literature from a boat builder
in Jacksonville, Fla. They had
dreams before the war of letting
"Rebecca's" earnings buy them q
boat, going to the United States to
get it and cruising around in
Southern waters for awhile. That's
out now, temporarily, at least. Mrs
Browning mentioned as an Incl
dental matter that United States
taxes on her royalties, with the
heavy British income tax piled on
top, were clipping her income.
"You think you've made your for
tune and then find out you haven't
Maybe that's one reason haven't
begun this other book-taxes."
Father Famous Actor.
Mrs. Browning's sister is an ac-
tress, her father a famous actor and
her mother an actress. Her uncle
was dramatist and her half -sister
another actress.
Mrs. Browning has never been to
America and is little timid about
the idea Of going there.
They're frightfully hospitable