When Margaret Lea opened the door to the past, what she confronted was her destiny. All children mythologize their birth…So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter’s collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist. The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating … various outlandish life histories for herself — all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter’s story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission. As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida’s storytelling but remains suspicious of the author’s sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves. The Thirteenth Tale is a love letter to reading, a book for the feral reader in all of us, a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and that we loved as children. Diane Setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter and, in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday life.
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A non-murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns.
I loved the experience of reading this, but was let down by the ending; it felt clear to me that the writer had adored writing it, but had not done the hard work of creating an entire narrative. Had the ending felt less tacked-on, this would have been a five-star review, as the prose is really compelling and the deepening sense of mystery and …
I just loved this book and truly enjoyed reading it, couldn’t put it down
This story is made for any of us who are life long readers. The mysterious story of the great writer through the eyes of her biographer unfolds at just the right pace. The biographer’s story within a story adds a lovely layer. You’ll be drawn into this world and it’s story.
I fell in love with all the characters in this book and the twists and turns of the characters’ lives. It was interesting to see into the twin child dynamics and how it affects them as individuals when together and apart. That juxtaposition in the book was outstanding. The ending was a bit surprising and took me back a bit. It was a very nice …
I’m still thinking about this book. I read it two years ago.
This book portrays a whole new method of one writer having their biography written. There are secrets on both sides, of the famous author and the one writing her biography, and their stories intertwine throughout. It was an interesting read, but for someone with patience.
Great read with unexpected twists.
great book read it long time ago
Loved this story within a story
This was a wonderful, dark mystery that kept me guessing.
Rarely do I find a book that stays with me long after I’ve closed the cover. The Thirteenth Tale is one of those books. Deeply cherished, it is a story that never feels out of date or outgrown. If I could only own ten books for the rest of my life this would be one of them.
What a wonderful book for those who love books about books!
modern Jane Eyre, sort of
I read this quite some time ago , but it was very good imo .
This story begins with a letter from Vida WInter to Margaret Lea, requesting her to write her biography, but as the book develops, the story began to involve a story inside another.
Full of misterys, ghosts and creepy characters the The Thirteenth Tale is one of the most amazing stories I´ve ever read, because it´s so well written that every …
This was a great book club book. We had lots of interesting discussion
I loved this book, it was original.
Just a great story. One of my favorite books.
This is a marvelously written intriguing tale. The plot was brilliant and the twists and surprises made it almost impossible to put down. I loved this book!