The Red Tent

By: Anita Diamant

Narrated by: Eleanor Bron

Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Her name is Dinah. In the Bible her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the Book of Genesis that recount the life of Jacob and his infamous dozen sons. The Red Tent is an extraordinary and engrossing tale of ancient womanhood and family honour. Told in Dinah's voice, it opens with the story of her mothers, the four wives of Jacob, each of whom embodies unique feminine traits, and concludes with Dinah's own startling and unforgettable story of betrayal, grief and love.

Deeply affecting and intimate, The Red Tent combines outstandingly rich storytelling with an original insight into women's society in a fascinating period of early history. Such is its warmth and candour that it is guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of women across the world.

© Anita Diamant; (P) Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Not just for girlies

Ignore the blurby bit. This book is not just for women. It is a great book for anybody who is interested in human history and uses a fragment of a biblical story as an interesting pivot for a real human story told fearlessly and compassionately. Moments where it pays not to be squeamish but nothing gruesome or sensational. The writing is crisp and clear and moves at a fair pace. The narration is as clear as any I have heard and does the work justice. Get it and enjoy however your chromosomes are paired up.

Excellent

I have previously read this book but when I saw it available on Audible, I thought that I would download it. Listening to it, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was able to visualise the characters better than when I read it.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

such an evocative book

I have read this book and listened to it several times. For me, it brings to life how women's lives were shaped by men for so long. although the women were strong and supported each other, ultimately they had very little choice in making decisions about their lives. Life was hard and the men could be brutal.
The story is about Dinah, the sister of Joseph-from the old testament. Although set in biblical times, it is not about religion. It covers one woman's life from birth to death, her childhood with all of the wives acting as her mother, her training to be a midwife, falling in love and having a son - all against the biblical background of familiar stories.
For today's independent active women, a life where you lived apart from the men when you were menstruating or in childbirth -in the red tent being waited upon by young girls - is so alien. But despite the sadness of death and loss, this is a joyous account of a woman overcoming the hardships to find peace of mind and her place in the world.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

beautiful story

I finished this in days,
A beautiful story, i found it insightful and touching and described in a way that certainly sparked my imagination.

A let down

Nowhere near as spiritual, profound or enlightening as I was led to believe. Main character has little depth and there were few life lessons to take away. Also few lessons on the history of womanhood.

a book for women everywhere

made me think about my mother and grandmother as well as my daughters and my unborn granddaughters. beautiful.

Heart wrenching

Deeply heart wrenching and bound to strike a chord within any woman touched by the knowing there is always more.....

Very interesting - well written - not over long.

Really interesting read whether you know the story of Jacob / Joseph or not. Full of historical insight and understanding which brings the tale to life.
I'd definitely recommend this book.

Not long enough!

My only criticism is that I wish it was the full book! The story had me hooked from the start.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful