The name of the English writer Daphne Du Maurier (1907-1989) is familiar to readers all over the world, her books have become classics of twentieth-century literature and have been translated into many languages. A master of intrigue and a subtle psychologist, Daphne Du Maurier, like no other, knows how to keep the reader in suspense, no wonder her work has always inspired famous film directors, including the famous Alfred Hitchcock, who shot successful films based on her works: "Rebecca", "Birds" and "Jamaica Inn". During her long creative life, Daphne Du Maurier has published a dozen and a half novels, plays, romanized biographies and a book about Cornwall, as well as several collections of short prose by the author: "Birds" (in this edition, this collection also includes the story "Merry Christmas", which has long remained unknown to the Russian reader), "Blue Lenses", "Rendezvous" and "No later than midnight". Daphne Du Maurier's mini-masterpieces, reflecting the multifaceted talent of the author, stun with an exceptional variety of themes, plots and moods, but remain equally original and fascinating, like everything that came from the pen of Du Maurier.