The Thirteenth Tale

A Novel

By: Diane Setterfield

Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Jill Tanner

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

All children mythologize their birth... So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's beloved collection of stories, long famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale. The enigmatic Winter has always kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she summons a biographer to tell the truth about her extraordinary life: Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth remains an ever-present pain.

Disinterring the life she meant to bury for good, Vida mesmerizes Margaret with the power of her storytelling. Hers 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, and a devastating fire. Struck by a curious parallel between their stories, Margaret demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them.

The Thirteenth Tale is a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and 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.

©2006 Diane Setterfield (P)2007 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2007

"Bianca Amato is stunning as Margaret....[her] respect for the power of story and the written word is heard in every utterance. Jill Tanner accomplishes a tour de force as the enigmatic and mysterious Vida. In conversation her voice has the hesitancy and fragility of an elderly woman, but her voice takes on the strength and power of a master storyteller as she weaves her spellbinding life story." (AudioFile)
"Readers will be mesmerized by this story-within-a-story tinged with the eeriness of Rebecca and the willfulness of Jane Eyre. The author skillfully keeps the plot moving by unfurling a new twist in each chapter and leaves no strand untucked at the surprising and satisfying conclusion. A wholly original work told in the vein of all the best gothic classics. Lovers of books about book lovers will be enthralled." (Booklist)

Beautiful eloquence, a love letter to word lovers

Beautifully crafted

Great character development , glorious depictions of a book lover's experience of the art of story.

Towards the end the rush to tie up loose ends felt a bit contrived and not as elegant as the rest of the book but it was such a joy to read that you don't really mind

Not My cup of Tea

This is the first time I wished I would have gotten the bridged version. I was really torn about writting a review for this book, some of it was pure art, the authors writting is vividly poetic, and then there are times when it is overdone. My biggest disapointment was the end..it went on and on..and on.

Rich & Arresting

It exceeded my expectations. I normally don't read " top ten stuff". I have my like & my hidden gems.
This book & the narrators were a perfect match. The depth and tone was a perfect paring, like cakes & tea.
The descriptions of being a reader and the intimate relationship between the reader & their book was smooth poetry. It was gothic enough to make reading at night a treat. It was smart enough to make me sit up and take notice. I couldn't do much else while listening, I didn't want to miss anything.
This book even crept into my dreams, leaving me to awaken and say slyly to my partner; " last night I dreamed I went to Angelfield again..."

Great Story

This was the perfect book to listen to. The two main characters are storytellers and they are read by two narrators. You can just sit back and listen to them spin their tales. And the two main storylines -- one about each character -- are engaging, with enough twists and interesting developments to keep you coming back to listen more.

If you like Gothic then this is for you!

I really do love a delicious decaying manor house, ancestral mysteries, fiery infernos, tragic dead children, and such. If you like these sorts of things then go for it. This does not disappoint!

Good story wakened by maudlin and supernatural moments

I was thoroughly enjoying this complex novel until it slipped into melodrama. By the end, I was disappointed that the author cheapened the the strong beginning in order to appeal—I can only guess here—to readers who prefer what I consider maudlin sentiments and behavior. The word “sappy” comes to mind. I thought this author had more integrity.

Great gothic tale!

I really enjoyed the story which was hard to stop listening to. I had to get the book from the library as well so I could read it at night. Very hard to put down! The two narrators were great! Highly recommend to anyone who loves Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

Brilliant story & performance!

"All children mythologize their birth..." I was hooked. Diane Setterfield's writing is elegant, clear & satisfying, with moments of luminous, transcendent beauty. The story is a contemporary mirror held up to the timeless classics of English literature - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Woman in White, etc - and when you look into that mirror you see a reflection within a reflection within a reflection, you become entwined between past and present, between narrator and storyteller, and entranced by the magnificent performances of the two voices.
It is also a damn good mystery, full of subtle clues, semi-misdirects, excellent characters, moody scenery and many twists.
You do not need any familiarity with the literary era this story embraces, all references are explained, but if you are a fan, you will be delighted !
I watched the movie, too, and although it is enjoyable, beautiful, and has an excellent cast, it is a thin substitute for the richness of the book. My advice is watch the movie first for its gorgeous scenery, and then listen to the book for the marvelous story!

Best book I've read in a while.

Smart. Dark enough to be mysterious, but not give you bad dreams. Clever enough to not guess the plot twists, or at least not until they were ready to be revealed, ruining nothing. Interesting enough you don't want to turn the book off, but calm enough it doesn't leaving panicking that you're at work not allowed to listen/read. A bit melancholy, but with a very satisfactory ending.

Sandy - San Anton, tx

So satisfying. The characters were funny yet sad. Set in a period of time that was so believable. I have recommend this book to many of my friends. 📚