I'Ll Never Be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
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On Aug 3, 2013, feeney said
In London, June-July, 1930, barely 23-year old Daphne du Maurier, dashed off her second novel, I'LL NEVER BE YOUNG AGAIN. Its structure is simple. Its English anti-hero, Richard, tells the story of his own life more or less from birth to some time short of age 30. The book's Table of Contents reads merely: PART I Jake, PART II Hesta. *** Jake prevents a despairing young Richard/Dick from jumping from a bridge into the Thames and offing himself. We learn that Jake is seven years older than Dick and has just completed a prison term for killing in the boxing ring a man who had unthinkingly ruined an innocent young woman. For a year or so Jake takes Dick under his indulgent, healing wing. They ship out together as merchant marine sailors. They tour Norway on foot, on horseback and on a tourist vessel. Before drowning in a sea wreck off the coast of France, Jake makes it clear that he believes Dick will surely at some time get a grip on himself and turn out all right. Jake points out a bird to Dick that seems to sing to itself, "I'll never be young again -- I'll never be young again." *** Be it noted that scores of pages later Dick, now a steady, slowing rising young London banker, hears a bird sing from a tree in his London garden. "At first he is lost, and then he is happy again. Sometimes he is wistful, sometimes he is glad. He seems to be saying: 'I'll never be young again -- I'll never be young again." These are the final words of du Maurier's novel. *** Between the two widely separated bird songs, readers learn that Richard is the only child of England's greatest poet. His mother lives almost entirely for his father. His father is a genius. He ignores his son, considers that he will never amount to much but in the end leaves Richard his entire considerable estate. Richard, after floundering around for months with Jake, settles in Paris and eventually writes a play and a novel in order to eclipse his father's literary glory. In the process he relentlessly, selfishly seduces an innocent English girl devoted to her music. Richard makes it clear to Hesta that he cannot live without virtually unending sex with her. She gives in, moves in with him, gives up her music but wants marriage and children. *** Richard/Dick browbeats Hesta into seeing the world as he sees it: marriage is a trap; they must remain free of entanglements, etc. Maybe she should even consider prostitution! After months of self-indulgence Dick inexplicably and suddenly becomes absorbed by his writing. He then takes Hesta's presence for granted, much as he would a comfortable piece of furniture. Richard then goes off to London for two or three weeks to show his two completed manuscripts to his famous father's publisher, who has known Richard since Richard was a child. Richard says no to Hesta's request to go with him. Hesta warns Dick not to leave her alone. In London, both novel and play are rejected as something "anti-father" that Richard just had to get out of his system as the price of growing up. He is not meant to be a writer. *** Returned to their flat in Paris, Richard finds that Hesta has moved out to live with Julio, a violinist. Once naive and restrained, Hesta now uses lipstick, paints her nails and is determined to live for parties and fun, one man after another, as Richard has taught her to want to do. Richard is both stunned and relieved. He mulls over traveling the world to solace himself. *** Richard is, however, unexpectedly summoned by telegram back to London by news of his father's death. He then accepts the publisher's advice to enter a dull but socially useful carer and also the latter's recommendation of a good club to join for meals and helpful personal contacts. At novel's end narrator Richard claims: "I am happier now than I have ever been. The restlessness has gone ... There is peace and contentment." ***COMMENT: Persistently self-absorbed, whining, rootless, unattractive Richard accepts the publisher's assessment: "Your father sits alone, Richard, a genius ... caring for nothing and no one, while you live and love, and hurt yourself and are miserable, and are happy, and you aren't a genius, Richard, you are only an ordinary man" (Part II, Ch. VIII). Anti-hero is the right word for Richard. He ruins a good girl, a vile thing for doing which his savior Jake had killed another man. Richard has no religion, lives only for himself on the basis of the feeblest of insights and conscience, aspires to nothing morally good. He reacts. Richard does not mould himself into anything admirable. -OOO-
Available Copies
I'll Never be Young Again (Virago Modern Classics)
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Published
- 05/05/2005
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781844080694
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$7.41
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Virago Press Ltd, 05/05/2005. Paperback. Used; Good. **WE SHIP WITHIN 24 HRS FROM LONDON, UK, 98% OF OUR ORDERS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books. Item Price
NZ$7.41
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I'll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Published
- 1978
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Bristol, Avon, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$1.59
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Fair Unmarked copy with tanned pages. Wear and scuffs to cover and spine. Foxing to page edges. 282 pages Item Price
NZ$1.59
I'Ll Never be Young Again (First Edition)
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Published
- 1932
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$160.74
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Doubleday, Doran & Company , Inc.. 1932. First Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. Hardcover. 1932. Doubleday, Doran and Company. 336 pages. Light wear and some fade to spine, else Very Good condition. First Printing. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 336 pages . Item Price
NZ$160.74
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I'll Never Be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1932
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Harrogate, North Yorkshire, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$1,274.58
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London: Heinemann, 1932. A first edition, first printing published by Heinemann in 1932. A very good book without inscriptions. Some light staining to the boards, a little fraying to the spine. Some light spotting to the page edges. Exceptionally rare in the first issue binding. Du Maurier's second novel. Item Price
NZ$1,274.58
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Good Condition
- Jacket Condition
- No Dust Jacket
- Published
- 1975
- Binding
- Softcover
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
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- 1
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Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$2.12
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Pan , 1975. Softcover. Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. Book Browning To Page Edges. 282 pages. Item Type: Book. Category: Fiction; ISBN: 0330244280. ISBN/EAN: 9780330244282. Please contact H4o Books if you require images or further information. Inventory No: 020106. . 9780330244282 Item Price
NZ$2.12
I'll Never Be Young Again (Virago Modern Classics)
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781844080694
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- 1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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NZ$2.12
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Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
NZ$2.12
I'll Never be Young Again
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1979
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
- Quantity Available
- 1
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east Sussex, Aberdeen, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$12.75
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London England: Pan, 1979. Paperback. (We carry a wide selection of titles in The Arts, Theology, History, Politics, Social and Physical Sciences. academic and scholarly books and Modern First Editions ,and all types of Academic Literature.) . Reprint. Softcover. Very Good. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Paperback. Item Price
NZ$12.75
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Jacket Condition
- Not Applicable
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1980
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
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- 1
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Buttaba, New South Wales, AUS
- Item Price
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NZ$3.90
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London, England: Pan Books, 1980. Book. Fair. Small Paperback. Reprint. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Small paperback, reprint, 152gms, 281 pages. Book is in fair condition with minor general age-related wear and tear and heavy page discolouration/spotting throughout. Wraps show some moderate creasing, otherwise no other pre-loved markings.. Item Price
NZ$3.90
I'll Never be Young Again (Virago Modern Classics)
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781844080694
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
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NZ$7.39
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Virago Press Ltd. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. All orders are… Read more about this item Item Price
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I'll Never be Young Again
by Daphne du Maurier
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- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- 3rd Edition
- Published
- 1932
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- 1
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Tarrington, Herefordshire, GBR
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NZ$318.64
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London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1932. 3rd Edition . Very Good. 5.5 x 8.75 inches (13.5 x 20 cm). Third edition, issued the month after the first printing. Lacking jacket. Green buckram binding with slight fading to spine, very slight marking to boards. Good solid binding. A few page corners have previously been folded, pages 33/34 and 35/36 have… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$318.64
I'll Never be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
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- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780140024272
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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NZ$1.70
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Paperback. Acceptable. Item Price
NZ$1.70
I'll Never be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
- Quantity Available
- 1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$3.57
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Paperback. Acceptable. Item Price
NZ$3.57
I'll Never be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1975-06-30
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Doncaster, South Yorkshire, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$14.74
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Pan Books, 1975-06-30. paperback. Good. 7x4x1. 1981 Pan Books. Cover differs from the one shown. Book is in good condition. Slight discolouration to the pages. Item Price
NZ$14.74
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781844080694
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- 1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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NZ$19.48
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Paperback / softback. New. A coming-of-age novel of adventure and love, ranging over early twentieth century Europe, told by a master storyteller. Item Price
NZ$19.48
I'Ll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne du Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1932
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$69.00
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William Heinemann Ltd, 1932. Hardcover. Acceptable. 1932. 3rd Edition. 344 pages. No dust jacket. Blue cloth. Slight cracking to hinges and gutters causing boards and binding to be loose. However, boards and pages throughout remain attached. Pages have light tanning and foxing throughout. Previous owner's inscription to front free endpaper. Boards have light shelf-wear with corner bumping. Light… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$69.00
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1949
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$63.73
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Arthur Barker Ltd, 1949. Hardcover. Good. 1949. 1949 reprint. 343 pages. No dust jacket. Green cloth. Pages are lightly tanned and thumbed at the edges, with light foxing. Binding has remained firm. Boards are a little rub worn, slight shelf wear to corners, spine and edges. Corners are a little bumped. Spine ends are mildly crushed. Light tanning… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$63.73
I'll Never Be Young Again
by du Maurier, Daphne
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- Used
- ISBN
- 9780330244282
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Morrinsville, NZL
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NZ$3.38
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Pan, UK, 1975. Paperback. Book Condition: Good. Moderate reading wear. Very clean interior.. Item Price
NZ$3.38
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Du Maurier, Daphne
- Condition
- Used - Very Good-
- Edition
- Reprint; First Printing
- Published
- 1966
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Blagoevgrad Region, BGR
- Item Price
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NZ$7.73
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Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books. Very Good-. 1966. Reprint; First Printing. Paperback. Mass Market PB . Some reading creases and edge wear, paper starting to tone, small sticker ghost and ink initials on front cover. ; First Penguin edition 2427. Nice tight copy. Cover artwork by Renato Fratini. ; 282 pages; Rarely have the agonies of youth… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$7.73
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1969
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$5.63
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Penguin Books, 1969. Paperback. Good. 1969. Reprinted. 282 pages. Illustrated paperback. Pages and binding are presentable with no major defects. Minor issues present such as mild cracking, inscriptions, inserts, light foxing, tanning and thumb marking. Overall a good condition item. Paper cover has mild edge-wear with light rubbing and creasing. Some light marking and sunning. Item Price
NZ$5.63
I'll Never Be Young Again
by Daphne du. Maurier
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1966
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$7.52
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Penguin, 1966. Paperback. Good. 1966. No Edition Stated. 282 pages. Paperback book with pictorial cover. Pages and binding are presentable with no major defects. Minor issues present such as mild cracking, inscriptions, inserts, light foxing, tanning and thumb marking. Overall a good condition item. Paper cover has mild edge-wear with light rubbing and creasing. Some light marking and… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$7.52