Find all the books, read about the author, and more. This novel is the story of two women, both of whom claim to be twins for a large portion of the novel. The thirteenth tale is a book which shifts between two main stories. Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with diane setterfields debut novel, the thirteenth tale. Not only is she scheduled for a 14city tour in the states, shell need to write her next novel quickly, because there is no doubt that we book lovers will be clamoring for more. The the thirteenth tale community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Terri the first time i read this book, it was the unabridged audio book. Nj from a cookie before dinner gives 31 ideas for intentional kindness. At the end of the book there is a list of questions suggested for book club readers, and one of these is about the date in which the story is set. What she discovers on her journey to the truth is for margaret a chilling and transforming experience. And even if you avoid gothic novels like i do, this one. This study guide consists of approximately 56 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the thirteenth tale. Most of the book club members liked the thirteenth tale, a story with gothic undertones about a young biographer, margaret lea, tasked with.
Margaret lea is the lucky newbie writer who will be spending time with vida in order to put her amazing life story down on paper. 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. Oct 04, 2010 just finished this book last night and stumbled on your blog today i had very much the same reactions to the thirteenth tale as you did it seems. Starting on november 1 the author of the thirteenth tale will join in a discussion of her book with anyone who joins the book club. Reclusive author vida winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories. If youre looking for activities to supplement your advanced english students studies, try starting a high school book club. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. The thirteenth tale is a love letter to reading, a book for the feral reader in all of us, a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and that we loved as children. Books play an important role in the thirteenth tale. These two intertwined stories are occasionally interrupted by letters and notes of supporting characters.
The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield librarything. Diane setterfields the thirteenth tale has elements of old fashioned gothic novel, horror, and mystery, along with literary jane austen styled romance. The 2006 gothic novel the thirteenth tale is diane. Former academic setterfield pays tribute in her debut to. The author leads the reader down a pathway of intriguing events. Margaret lea works in her fathers antiquarian bookshop where her fascination for the biographies of the longdead has led her to write them herself. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield veronica heley. From the fictional book referred to in its title to margarets deep love of books deeper than her affection for most people to miss winters renown as a great author, books are the lifeblood of the plot. In the thirteenth tale, the novel jane eyre appears several times. As winters life story is slowly unraveled, lea gets caught up in the tale of ghosts, lies, and halftruths and is forced to come to terms with some of. When her health begins failing, the mysterious author vida winter decides to let margaret lea, a biographer, write the. Which aspects of the book gave you a sense of time, and which seemed timeless.
Adeline steps forward as intelligent, wellspoken, and confident. The thirteenth tale could easily have become an overblown, sensationalist potboiler in the hands of a lesser author, but setterfield has managed to strike the perfect balance between a gripping plot full of surprises and an astute, sometimes heartbreaking analysis of what it means to live with what feels like a part of oneself missing. Reading guide for the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. The world famous author vida winter, who has always kept her past and personal life an absolute secret, is dying. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield book club discussion. The thirteenth tale goodreads meet your next favorite book. To ask other readers questions about the thirteenth tale, please sign up. Her first book, a gothic mystery titled the thirteenth tale, has catapulted to first place on the new york times hardback fiction list. Im going to throw out some discussion topics, and you can feel free to post your commentsabout these topics or other things you want to talk about. This bestseller is a book lovers book, with much of the action taking place in libraries and book stores, and the line between fact and fiction constantly blurred. I rather think, if im pushed, that id say it was set somewhere between the two world wars.
The thirteenth tale is a novel framed and shaped, virtually permeated, by books. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books, and family. The thirteenth tale is very well written and combines the past and the present in a captivating manner. This offering is an unread copy of the thirteenth tale written by diane setterfield. Diane setterfield goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. If youre looking for an interesting novel for your high school english students, check out diane setterfields the thirteenth tale. So, i listened to amore the first time i read this book, it was the unabridged audio book. Ghost stories abound in the thirteenth tale, and in many american towns and cities as well. The fellowship of the worms is officially in session. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield is not a book you read then forget.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the thirteenth tale. The 2006 gothic novel the thirteenth tale is diane setterfieldsfirst book. Erin collazo miller is a freelance book critic whose work has appeared regularly in the orlando sentinel. Discuss the appearances and allusions to jane eyre and how this novel echoes that one. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield questions issued by publisher. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield, signed abebooks. This the thirteenth tale book is telling about biographer margaret lea returns one night to her apartment above her fathers antiquarian bookshop. Buy the thirteenth tale new ed by setterfield, diane isbn. The narrator gives some hints, but never tells the exact date. A biographer, hearing the previously untold dark and disturbing life story of a dying novelist, is compelled to. But it is a remarkable first novel, a book about the joy of books, a riveting multilayered mystery that twists and turns, and weaves a quite magical spell for most of its length. The gentle giant aurelius is a stock character, and the ending is perhaps a little too concerned with tying up all loose ends. Ghost stories abound in the thirteenth tale, and in.
It stays with you, taking up brain space, whispering incessantly, like the five notes of a song you cant place, but cant escape. Thanks to everyone who participated in our virtual book club which i introduced here. Buy a cheap copy of the thirteenth tale book by diane setterfield. Januarys selection was the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield goodreads. It is a classic writers axiom that a symbol must appear at least three times in a story so that the reader knows that you meant it as a symbol. Reclusive author vida winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning. With janet amsden, alice barlow, isabel barlow, emily beecham. Setterfield has rejuvenated the genre with this closely. Lynn redgraves many awards include two golden globes, two oscar nominations, three tony nominations and for talking heads, the drama desk, obie, and. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield book club. Our inaugural book club choice was the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield.
I read french literature almost exclusively for more than a decade, she explains, so when i left academia, i really wanted to go back to the english classics which i loved so much as a teenager. The book was published by orion publishing in 2006 and appears to be a first edition though it is never specifically stated as such. The thirteenth tale in itself is a mystery, as there are only twelve tales in the book haunting and original takes on old fairy stories. I was also very relieved to know that it wasnt just me and that i hadnt just spaced off the time frame this happened in. Did the question of time affect your experience with the novel. These book club discussion questions on the thirteenth tale will help you explore setterfields masterfully created story. The thirteenth tale is a british drama television film that first broadcast on bbc two on 30 december 20. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield.
She has given hundreds of interviews over the course of her career my genius is not so fragile that it must be shut away, but when it comes to the inevitable questions about herself. The thirteenth tale by diane setterfield margaret lea works in her fathers antiquarian bookshop where her fascination for the biographies of the longdead has led her to write them herself. So besotted is she by books that she makes sure she is sitting down whenever she reads, so as not to fall over and hurt. I must say that the audio version of the thirteenth tale is the bestproduced audio book ive ever read. Discuss margaret and miss winters relationships to books. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The story shifts significantly after the death of mrs.
Former academic setterfield pays tribute in her debut to bronte and du maurier heroines. The reader finds himself heading a certain direction, and then suprisingly another. Part a mystery, partially a ghost story, and undoubtedly one of those novels that will have readers burning the midnight oil, the thirteenth tale is perfect reading for students and book clubs alike. I need to know the theme of the book the thirteenth tale by diane setterfield. Publishing simultaneously in 28 countries, the thirteenth tale is going to make setterfield, a former academic living in england, a very busy woman. We book lovers have things in common, and margaret lea, the heroine of diane setterfields heralded debut novel, is one of us. Usa today sometimes, when you open the door to the past, what you confront is your destiny. One tells of the life of amateur biographer margaret lea and her exploration of the angelfieldmarch familys past.
The thirteenth tale is a novel in the tradition of the bronte sisters by new writer diane setterfield. July 8, 20 katie words for worms blogging, book club, historical fiction 33. Margaret has been reading a rare first edition from her fathers special locked case, but all subsequent editions of the book were given a different title. She gets a letter from one of the most famous authors of the day, the mysterious vida winter, whose popularity as a. Follows aging novelist vida winter, who enlists a young writer to finally tell the story of her life including her mysterious childhood spent in angelfield house, which burned to the ground when she was a teenager. Margaret lea grew up in a household of mourning, but she never knew why until the day she opened a box of papers underneath her parents bed and found the birth and death certificates of a twin sister of whom she never. The main character, margaret lea, is invited to write the life story of bestselling author, vida winter, who has spent her entire career making up her past. The thirteenth tale was in part inspired by setterfields wish to return to the storytelling richness of the books she treasured in her youth. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. I dont need a one word theme, i dont need a summary of the plot, i need the theme general statement about life or human nature. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.