Daphne du Maurier’s My Cousin Rachel (1951) is set earlier in the 19th century, but its preoccupations reflect concerns that were highly visible in Britain in the years following World War II. The novel matches the common biases of the early 1950s, including the atmosphere of suspicion surrounding independent women, the continued importance of class hierarchy, and the strict expectations governing social behavior in English country society. Postwar Britain experienced dramatic social disruption after 1945 as millions of men returned from military service to a country that had been physically damaged by bombing and economically weakened by the war. Rationing remained in place for years, housing shortages were severe, and the British government attempted to rebuild the economy through new welfare policies. Although wartime mobilization had temporarily expanded opportunities for women, the immediate postwar period saw strong pressure for a return to traditional gender roles. As a result, women who had worked in factories, transport, and civil defense during the war were encouraged to leave those positions and resume domestic responsibilities. Popular media and political rhetoric emphasized the ideal of the stable household headed by a male breadwinner, with the wife responsible for maintaining the home and family life.