Father'S Death Quote by Daphne du Maurier
““That this exceptionally scholarly man whose judgments, always rich and sensitive, though sometimes austere, should have embarked on an intensely romantic retelling of the old Cornish legend of that famous pair of tragic lovers, Tristan and Queen Iseult, is intriguing in itself. But what makes it even more fascinating is that Daphne du Maurier, asked by “Q” ’s daughter long after her father’s death to finish this novel that he had set aside “near the end of a chapter, halfway through,” did so in such a skillful fashion that it is impossible to guess with any certainty the exact point at which she began to write. She says, in a modest foreword, that she “could not imitate ‘Q’’s style… that would have been robbing the dead,” but she had known him when she was a child, remembered him as a genial host at many a Sunday supper, and “by thinking back to conversations long forgotten” she could recapture something of the man himself and trust herself to “fall into his mood.””
About This Quote
Source Foreword: The Lost Landscape, 1969
The author respects a late writer’s style, fearing imitation would betray his memory, yet uses personal recollections to capture his essence and continue his narrative.
In simple terms: Respectful continuation of a deceased writer’s voice through memory.
Honor past voices while adding your own perspective.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing a sequel
- biographical storytelling
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have when completing another’s unfinished work?
- How can we honor original intent without stifling our voice?
Balancing fidelity to original style with personal authenticity is challenging.