Period Drama 'Jamaica Inn' Arrives on PBS Passport This June
Though English novelist Daphne du Maurier is probably best known for Rebecca, a Gothic story of gaslighting and murder that remains so popular it has never once gone out of print since it first hit shelves in 1938, she was a prolific author who penned multiple other notable works of fiction such as Frenchman's Creek and My Cousin Rachel, along with multiple short stories, biographies and more. But her other most recognizable work—that is not Rebecca, at any rate—is the novel Jamaica Inn.
Jamaica Inn, however, is not adapted with nearly the same frequency or regularity as its sister work, with just a single feature film and a scant few television versions in existence. (For comparison: Rebecca's most famous adaptation is probably the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film, but there are a half dozen television versions and even several plays.) Whether that's because of its morally murky plot or dated focus on the cultural trope of "wreckers" in southwest England is unclear. But whatever the reason, du Maurier fans can rejoice—the 2014 BBC adaptation of Jamaica Inn, starring Downton Abbey alum Jessica Brown Findlay, is finally(!) making its way to American shores.
The three-part drama officially arrives on PBS Passport this June as an exclusive early binge opportunity ahead of a forthcoming linear broadcast in 2023. Local station members will be able to stream the full series starting on June 1.
