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THIRTEENTH TALE

By Diane Setterfield

(39)

| Hardcover | 9780385662840

Book Description

Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father's antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it isContinue

Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father's antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise–she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels.
Late one night, while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss Winter’s personal story, Margaret begins to read her father’s rare copy of Miss Winter’s Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss Winter and act as her biographer.
As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story. In the end, both women have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets. As well as the ghosts that haunt them still.

4 Reviews

  • 1 person find this helpful

    I don't have words for how wonderful this book is! It's mesmerizing in every way possible. The story is told beautifully and the author keeps you on your toes for the entire book. I can't wait to read this book again!

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    ― mndy said on May 25, 2007 | Add your feedback

  • I listened to the audiobook (unabridged version) and it was a real delight. Fabulous book, well written and very entertaining!
    Characters that stay with you for a long, long time!

    Is this helpful?

    ― Nini said on Oct 26, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • 比起Margaret的轉述文
    我倒比較想看到Diane Settlefield
    用Vida Winter的語氣來說其他12個故事
    看到the 13th tale被這樣不清不楚的帶過
    當下還真想翻桌

    Is this helpful?

    ― Amusaur83 said on Jun 6, 2008 | Add your feedback

  • Great Read

    A beautiful story and a great mystery to unravel. I really enjoyed this book.

    Is this helpful?

    ― mtclibrarian said on Jun 14, 2007 | Add your feedback

Book Details

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9780385662840 Hardcover $32.95 -- Amazon CA
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