ABSTRACT
“The Doll” by Daphne du Maurier has a fragmented heritage. Written in 1927 when the author was just 20, it was briefly published ten years later in Michael Joseph’s small compilation of rejected short stories entitled The Editor Regrets and was not seen again until its rediscovery in 2007. Rich in uncanny subject matter and subverted gender norms, it centers on an obsessive love triangle between the anonymous male narrator, his female love interest, Rebecca, and her life-size automaton, Julio. In writing such a controversial tale, du Maurier depicted the newfound Edwardian notions that sought to revise traditional notions of masculinity and femininity from World War I. This period saw huge revolutionary social change for British women as a result of various acts that promoted greater gender equality. 1
