The Thirteenth Tale cover art

The Thirteenth Tale

A Novel

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The Thirteenth Tale

Written by: Diane Setterfield
Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Jill Tanner
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About this listen

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
Fiction Gothic Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Scary Haunted Tearjerking Ghost Storytelling
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What the critics say

  • 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
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I was listening to it every chance I got

I loved the story and the characters. Twists and turns! Beautifully written and performed! Highly recommend!

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1 person found this helpful

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Excellent

A haunting and captivating tale, well told and richly crafted. Both narrators are superb with natural delivery and characterizations which add greatly to the experience.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Secrets, family and love of stories

Really excellent story, beautifully written and narrated. Deals with a lot of family related trauma.

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Engaging narration of a wonderful story

I loved the pace and felt complete immersed in the story. I did not want it to end but did feel a sense of satisfaction by the closure for all characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Gothic with a modern twist

A great read and puzzle that keeps you guessing to the end. Quite moody and brooding in the fadhion of Jane Eyre. There are some terrific lines that lovers of books and the stories they tell will relate to.

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Disappointing climax

It’s very beautifully read. Both the narrators did an excellent job. I truly loved the first part, but towards the end it felt far fetched.

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Great narration

I read this book years ago. Decided to listen to audio version. Loved the narration. Definitely paints the story very well. Enjoyed it immensely.

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Beautifully written and well narrated

A gripping story that is beautifully written and is enhanced by the narration - I liked both narrators!

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Beautiful Gothic Writing and Narration

I generally enjoyed this book - it was beautifully written and narrated by the two narrators in the audiobook, had a suspenseful Gothic feel, and is layered with interact details that build upon the dark family mysteries. That being said, I had issues with some of the plot points and it felt like the last 25% of the book was anticlimactic and wrapped up too quickly after all the build up.

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