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The Thirteenth Tale

By: Diane Setterfield
Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Jill Tanner
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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)

What listeners say about The Thirteenth Tale

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    6,674
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    2,996
  • 3 Stars
    1,167
  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I am blown away by this novel. It is not only spellbinding but characters are incredibly well developed. There is the mesmerizing main story and then several sub stories within which are all complete. I also immediately looked for other works by the author and discovered it is her first. I will be impatiently be awaiting the next.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Loved it all! Well written and well performed. Felt myself in the past as I listened.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A bit over dramatic, but a good read

I thought the story was a bit over dramatic. The narrators really did a superb job and made up for what I thought was a weak story line.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Story telling at it's Best!

This book was very haunting... extremely well written and narrated. It's not a book that is easy to follow if you are easily distracted. You will be transported into the characters lives not wanting to leave and go back to your reality. I feel it is well worth the time and credit and I will be re-listening to this book again very soon.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very well written

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could understand the references to books and felt that connection with the writer. I felt she could understand that relationship I have with books.
Even though she references Jane Eyre several times, I felt the book compared more with Withering Heights. I did not care for Withering Heights but I really liked this book. The author was able to create characters that I could feel sorry for better than Bronte was able to do.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Thirteenth Tale

The book is beautifully written and the readers compliment the wonderful writing. I am only disappointed that I cannot find another book by Ms. Setterfield. I would rank this as one of the best books I've read. You'll not be sorry for choosing the "Thirteenth Tale"

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read!

Excellent book! Like being taken away, true story telling at its very best! The authors use of language is superb!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

engaging Gothic drama

I love audio books that make me eager to get in my car so that I can listen - thanks to the complex story, the mystery and unusual and the unusual and interesting characters this book drew me in tight. Oh, what a pity that the first hour is just so boring - where was the editor? - However, it is worth slugging trough to get to the rest. This book is not a masterpiece but it will entertain you well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Tale

I really liked this book and found myself walking past my turn when listening. The narrators are very good and captured the tale perfectly!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed every minute

Any additional comments?

After reading the reviews for both the abridged and unabridged versions, I opted for the unabridged version and I am glad I did. Once the story hooked me I savored every minute and couldn't turn it off.

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