The Scapegoat

 

The Scapegoat

By Daphne Du Maurier

University of Pennsylvania Press, 1957. 348 pages. Fiction 

Two men--one English, the other French--meet by chance in a provincial railway station and are astounded that they are so much alike that they could easily pass for each other. Over the course of a long evening, they talk and drink. It is not until he awakes the next day that John, the Englishman, realizes that he may have spoken too much. His French companion is gone, having stolen his identity. For his part, John has no choice but to take the Frenchman's place--as master of a château, director of a failing business, head of a large and embittered family, and keeper of too many secrets. Loaded with suspense and crackling wit, The Scapegoat tells the double story of the attempts by John, the imposter, to escape detection by the family, servants, and several mistresses of his alter ego, and of his constant and frustrating efforts to unravel the mystery of the enigmatic past that dominates the existence of all who live in the château.

I had seen the 2012 British TV adaptation of this a few years back, and really enjoyed it. The book is a lot more exciting, and how the characters are described and how they develop is really fascinating and compelling. Of course you've got to employ a strong dose of the willing suspension of disbelief, but this novel is well written, thought-provoking and doesn't have any dull moments. The main character is also very believable, with his change of moods, and his the very human things which drive his various desires. There are also some lovely descriptions of the French countryside. I enjoyed it more than the TV adaptation, and the ending is more surprising and interesting. 

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