The Thirteenth Tale

A Novel

De: Diane Setterfield

Narrado por: Bianca Amato, Jill Tanner

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

• 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)

Engrossing, intricately woven tale

I loved it. Beautifully structured, with well developed, complex characters. Once I started listening, I didn't want to put it down. An emotionally and intellectually riveting story.

Love this book!

I reread this book every few years and enjoy it all over again, it's a book I recommend to others.

Extravagantly Rich Storytelling

Much like a decadent dessert that tempts you to sneak another taste, I was drawn to enjoying this book twice in a row, pure delight & pleasure. Such a treasure truly!

Enjoyable.

I now know why there’s an abridged version. I think if I were to do it over I would’ve read that version because it would’ve held my interest more and the ending would’ve been all the more enjoyable. I think the book has a lot of strong aspects including the protagonist.

Wow

This was a little slow to start for me but once I got into Vida's story I just could not stop. It's an old fashioned type tale in a contemporary style.The protagonist is a little stand-offish to begin but I soon started to relate to her. I will listen to this one again.

Please make the movie!

I found this story addictive and was very pleased with the way the tangled web became unraveled in the end. I really enjoyed the narration as well- it was very engaging. I truly hope they make this story into a movie. I've already started casting the characters in my head. I will definitely listen to this story again in the future!

Enchanting to the Last

I was completely captured by this audio book. The writing, the narration, the entire production is a masterpiece.

Masterful

What did you love best about The Thirteenth Tale?

what didn't I love. The story was smart, well told, tidy and kept me fully engaged. There narrators were absolutely perfect for the story - their voices ambrosia to my ears. I am looking forward to more from Ms. Setterfield and will seek out other stories narrated by Ms. Amato and Ms. Tanner.

Wow! Amazing story.

Twists and turns- the story drew you in and it was quite enjoyable. Performance was outstanding.

Wonderful tale

This was my thrid audio book and has been my favorite so far. It is a dark story that is richly narrated by two wonderful women's voices. They made the story come alive and kept my rapt interest throughout the suspenseful book about a young woman who has been hired to write the biography of a secretive and demanding, though celebrated and well-known British novelist. It's a wonderful story that is perfectly narrated, and I highly recommend it.