After Midnight

From Daphne du Maurier comes a collection of her thirteen most mesmerizing tales—including iconic stories such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now"—with an introduction by Stephen King.

Daphne du Maurier is best known for Rebecca, basis for Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film adaptation. More than thirty-five years after her death, du Maurier is celebrated for her gothic genius and stunning psychological insight. After Midnight brings together some of du Maurier's darkest, most haunting stories, ranging from sophisticated literary thriller to twisted love story.

Alongside classics such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now,"—both of which inspired unforgettable films—are gems such as "Monte Verità," a masterpiece about obsession, mysticism, and tragic love, and "The Alibi," a chilling tale of an ordinary man's descent into lies, manipulation, and sinister fantasies that edge dangerously close to reality.

In "The Blue Lenses," a woman recovering from eye surgery finds she now perceives those around her as having animal heads corresponding to their true natures. "Not After Midnight" follows a schoolteacher on holiday in Crete who finds a foreboding message from the chalet's previous occupant who drowned while swimming at night. In "The Breakthrough," a scientist conducts experiments to harness the power of death, blurring the line between genius and madness.

Each story in this collection exemplifies du Maurier's exquisite writing and singular insight into human frailty, jealousy, and the macabre. Daphne du Maurier is mistress of the sleight of hand and slow-burning menace, often imitated and rarely surpassed.