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)

A rich mystical tale of the women in the Bible.

loved it and will listen to it again. As a woman it was empowering to be reminded of my place in this world to my mother, grandmother a d children. a beautiful story.

Good story line

I got this book after hearing several friends mentioning it and thought I would try it. It was the first audio book I listened to in awhile and throughout it I was able to visualize the story and connect with the characters. Is this book Biblical? No. As the main character is only mentioned in a couple of verses no one knows what happened to her after that, however the storyline presented is a possibility of what could have happened. It’s a look into what life was like for women back in Biblical times and what might have happened to Dinah. I enjoyed it and hope to listen to other titles soon. I find her work similar to Francine rivers or Lori wick if you like their writing you will probably enjoy this one as well.

fabulous fiction

loved it. well written, beautifully read. Dinah's amazing story is one never to be forgotten.

Interesting

As others have said, there are mispronunciations, but despite that, the narrator’s voice was very fluid and in keeping with the feel of the book. The story was interesting—weird at times, but well written.

a revelation.

i bawled my eyes out when this book was over. worth the read. will change your life forever

My favorite book of all time!

I have read this book several times. I love it dearly and having it read aloud on my road trip was even better!
It's heartwarming, thought provoking. Makes me long for the days of living in community.

1st half of book is 2 stars...2nd half 4.1 .

Way too much girl drama. i was constantly almost to turn it off until about 1/2 way through, I decided I could listen. if you can hang in through the end...the end is good. thereafter does a good job.

amazing story

really a beautiful journey thru this incredible story, will listen again! great reader too, really brought this story to life in a new way

Beautiful

This story and particularly the audio book moved me to tears. Perhaps my favorite in recent memory.

Fascinating retelling of Dinah and Jacob’s family

I was aware of the story of Joseph and his wonderful coat from seeing the stage show, but was largely unfamiliar with the extended details of that story or with the women associated with the family of Jacob. This book does a wonderful job of telling their stories through the eyes of Dinah—the only daughter of Jacob and Leah. I enjoyed and was shocked by the different characters. Was fascinated to learn about the different customs and cultures Dinah experienced. Not a religious book, as such, but more a study of biblical characters and their stories. Really well done!