Derwent May's top country house books

Derwent May, who writes on nature, the countryside and literature for the London Times, named a "critic's chart" of top country house books.

The book at the top of his list:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

The sinister country house novel with the famous first line: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

Learn about the other five books on May's list.

Read the Guardian's mini-profile of Daphne du Maurier.

Rebecca made Anna Quindlen's list of "Ten Mystery Novels I'd Most Like to Find in a Summer Rental."

--Marshal Zeringue