The Key to Rebecca was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1980. Based loosely on the real case of Johannes Eppler, a German agent who operated in Cairo during the North African campaign, the novel follows Alex Wolff — a half-German, half-Egyptian spy who crosses the Sahara from Libya to infiltrate British-held Cairo in 1942, as Rommel’s Afrika Korps advances toward Egypt.
Wolff uses a copy of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca as the key to his cipher — a simple but effective book code. He obtains British military intelligence through Sonja, an Egyptian belly dancer who seduces British officers, and transmits it by radio to Rommel’s headquarters. Against him is Major William Vandam, a dissolute but intelligent British officer who slowly identifies the leak.
The novel interweaves the espionage plot with the larger strategic situation: if Rommel takes Cairo and the Suez Canal, Britain loses its connection to India and the Middle Eastern oil fields, potentially changing the course of the war.
Collecting The Key to Rebecca
First edition (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1980): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- UK first edition, fine in jacket: $50–$150
- US first edition (Morrow): $30–$80
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
North Africa
The Key to Rebecca (1980) is set in Cairo during Rommel’s 1942 advance on Egypt. A German spy uses a copy of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca as a book code to transmit British military secrets. The novel captures wartime Cairo — its espionage, its nightlife, its tension between luxury and existential threat — with the same meticulous research that characterises all Follett’s thrillers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Follett research his novels? Follett is known for exhaustive research. He visits every location, consults historians and military experts, and accumulates binders of material before writing. For The Pillars of the Earth, he spent years studying medieval cathedral construction. For the Century Trilogy, he employed research assistants across multiple countries.