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)

Interesting Premise

This came to me highly recommended. It is pretty well written. I just didn't enjoy the liberties taken with the actual story of Joseph. Many of the males were flat characters.

Skye approved

Rich wonderful narrative, at times even lyrical, the reader gets to see the world from the unique perspective of the red tent...master storytelling at its best.

Una poderosa historia de amor

Una hermosa y poderosa historia de amor entre mujeres, hermanos, padres y sobre todo amor propio.
lo recomiendo muchísimo!

Listen when on your period

This book always makes me feel so connected to my femininity and the women in my life. So powerful ❤️

What a journey!

I will ever forget this book!
A fresh reminder of how special our femininity truly is….. this book is a gift for your soul

One of the best books I've ever heard!!

I loved every thing about this book! As a birth worker this book rung true and I loved the idea of the Red Tent!

Audio

I felt like the audio quality could have been better. The story and performance was fantastic a must read!

Second time reading The Red Tent... it's that good!

The first time I read The Red Tent, I felt every emotion that Dina expressed. I wasn't sure how it was going to translate on Audible, but the same thing happened. I loved the added sound of the market place and the ending. It was helpful to really place the setting.
I highly recommend listening to The Red Tent!

Dinah is not forgotten

Beautiful story and pleasant narration. This novel had lots of familiar Biblical characters, but Dinah was not one that most people recognize. Her spirit lives on, beyond the red tent. I read this with my book club and now we are all Dinah fans.

Wow!

Such beautiful storytelling. The descriptions are incredible. Loved it!! I would highly recommend this book.