The Red Tent

By: Anita Diamant

Narrated by: Carol Bilger

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable contribution in modern fiction: a new perspective of female life in biblical society. It is a vast and stirring work described as what the Bible might have been had it been written by God's daughters instead of sons. Far beyond the traditional women-of-the-Bible sagas in both impact and vigor, The Red Tent is based upon a mention in Genesis of Jacob's only female offspring - his daughter, Dinah.

Author Anita Diamant, in the voice of Dinah, gives an insider's look at the details of women's lives in biblical times and a chronicle of their earthy stories and long-ignored histories. The red tent of the title is the place where women were sequestered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and illness. It is here that Dinah hears the whispered stories of her four mothers - Jacob's wives Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah - and tells their tales to us in remarkable and thought-provoking oratories.

Familiar passages from the Bible take on new life as Dinah fills in what the Bible has left out - the lives of women. Dinah tells us of her initiation into the religious and sexual practices of the tribe; Jacob's courtship with Rachel and Leah; the ancient world of caravans, farmers, midwives, and slaves; her ill-fated sojourn in the city of Sechem; her years in Canaan; and her half-brother Joseph's rise in Egypt.

Skillfully interweaving biblical tales with characters of her own invention, the author re-creates the life of Dinah providing an illuminating portrait of a courageous woman and the life she might have lived. A new view of the panorama of life in biblical times emerges from the female perspective, and the red tent itself becomes a symbol of womanly strength, love, and wisdom.

The Red Tent is one of those extremely rare publishing phenomenons - a little promoted, but dynamically successful book (over 250,000 copies sold) that owes its success to enthusiastic word-of-mouth endorsements. Now, for the first time, this sweeping saga, which has struck a chord with so many modern-day women, comes to life as a much-anticipated audiobook.

Don't miss Anita Diamant at the 92nd Street Y.

©1997 by Anita Diamant (P)2000 by Audio Renaissance, An Imprint of Renaissance Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award Winner, Adult Fiction, 2001

"The oldest story of all could never seem more original, or more true." (James Carroll, author of An American Requiem)
"Carol Bilger narrates with a warmth and melodiousness that echo the rhythm of the musical interludes that separate chapters." (AudioFile)

The Red Tent is Amazing.

The Red Tent is a book written about women for women. This book shares the absolute essence of the joys of womanhood, motherhood and the bound women share as mothers, daughters and confidants.

Great book to pass the time

This was suggested to me by an Instagram account. The owner mentioned it showed the link between women and how magic could be found.

I listened while loom-knitting and found myself deeply engaged - at times laughing, feeling intense sorrow followed by tears.

This book has definitely warmed my icy heart.

amazing

this is one of my favorite books. I have listened to it over and over

Dinah Has a Voice

Dinah has no voice in the account from the Bible. Here is one possible story told in exquisite detail.

Really Great Story!

I absolutely loved this book! I took it to bed with me each night and would listen to it. The story is absolutely beautiful! The narration is excellent! This audible book is definitely a keeper!

Amazing!!

Great story with drama, love, tragedy, strength, and everything in between! Could read it again and again!

Wonderful story

Fantastic story weaving historical characters in an absorbing story. Although target audience is women the story was engrossing to all.

Reader's voice was captivating. !

The Old Testament stories in this novel were told from a new perspective and the writer's style kept me engaged for the whole book.

Beautiful storytelling

I loved this book because it transported me back in time and made biblical stories come alive! I wish more books were written about the untold stories of the bible. This was more personal than religious. The life of Jacob's daughter Dinah lives on.

Wonderful Story

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the reader was excellent. This is a story of strength and love and the heartbreak we all experience in life