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)

Beautiful book

Beautiful book in every way. Very emotional and so true that only woman can understand and feel every word. Narrator is so perfect. Gentle and soothing voice makes this piece a masterpiece. Thank you!

beautiful story

I enjoyed hearing this story that filled in the blanks of the story of Dinah, only daughter for Leah and Jacob from the book of Genisis. I could envision just what it must have been like in those times & feel blessed to live in these times. It was sometimes heart breaking but a good story none the less.

Life like most have forgotten

This was a great story of one women's life through her own eyes. The things women had to endure. How women of her time in some places today are similar. Woman were no more than servants and slaves to men, a footnote of life. I enjoyed how through everything Dinah found her way to help women in need.

Loved it!

Loved it! Always kept my attention! Lines up well with scripture! I would listen to it again!

Absolutely amazing book!

This book was viscerally impactful for me on so many levels. Beautifully written, powerful, deep, and memorable. Amazing character development and imagery, beautiful narration, and such rich story lines. I can’t say enough good things about this work of art.

A pleasure to read

This book was easy to read, the story flowed from family to family, easy to follow as generations went after generations. The main character was a pleasure to read. It followed her journey through life.

Excellent.

I loved every word. This tale pays incredible honor to Dinan in the tradition of a midrash. I strongly recommend this book to any one.

Couldn't wait to hear the next chapter

Any additional comments?

If you are a woman please read this. It's a wonderful story about strength, connection, and survival. She will make you forge better relationships. You'll laugh and cry.

Storytelling Art

Beautifully written and told. The tale of mothers, aunts, sisters, and women is amazing and insightful. A beautiful look at what women went through in their day and tells a tale of strength, sorrow, love, hate, choice, and destiny. A single life can hold so much.

My favorite all time book

This book brought me to tears several times. All the women in my family just love this book. It's a story about the bond between women, mother, child, and wives back in the biblical times of the Old Testament. It should be required reading for every pregnant woman, as it chronicles Dina's life as a midwife.