Title: The Thirteenth Tale – Dongeng Ketiga Belas
Author: Diane Setterfield
First published September 12, 2006
608 pages, Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9789792241297
Rating: 3.97
Overview
“Tell me the truth.” A simple request that haunted Vida Winter, a famous novelist full of secrets. For sixty years, she had woven many tales but never revealed her own story.
However, as death drew near, she could no longer avoid her past, no matter how many tales she had spun. So Vida Winter invited Margaret Lea, a young biographer with her own buried secrets about her birth, haunted by dark shadows that followed her every step.
This is the story of Vida and the Angelfield family: the beautiful and headstrong Isabelle, the wild twins Adeline and Emmeline, the old and crumbling Angelfield mansion, and all its living and dead inhabitants. As Margaret delved into Vida’s story, the dark secrets slowly unraveled, and as the truth emerged, the two women must confront the ghosts that have been haunting their lives.
About the Author
Diane Setterfield is a talented British author whose work has captivated readers worldwide. Her first novel, The Thirteenth Tale, was a massive success, selling over three million copies and being published in 38 countries.
This gripping mystery novel spent three weeks at the top of the New York Times hardback fiction list and is beloved not only for its style and intrigue but also for its celebration of the joy of reading.
Setterfield’s second novel, Bellman & Black, is a unique story that blends Victorian retail with the lives of rooks. Her latest book, Once Upon a River, was released in January 2019 and has received high praise for its enchanting and bewitching qualities.
Diane was born in 1964 in Englefield, Berkshire and spent most of her childhood in Theale. After studying French Literature at the University of Bristol and completing a PhD on autobiographical structures in André Gide’s early fiction, she taught English and French at various institutions before leaving academia to pursue writing.
The Thirteenth Tale was adapted for television by Christopher Hampton and filmed in North Yorkshire in 2013, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman. The TV rights to Once Upon a River have been sold to Kudos.
Diane now resides in Oxford and is an avid reader who considers herself a reader first and a writer second.
Editoral Review
Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale is a haunting and engrossing tale that will captivate readers who love gothic literature and suspenseful storytelling. Released in 2006, this novel has become a modern classic in the literary genre of gothic fiction.
Setterfield’s love for the genre is evident as her novel features a sprawling and eerie mansion, a family with dark secrets, and an unreliable narrator. But, Setterfield not only pays homage to gothic literature but also adds her unique twist to the genre, making it a thriller that leaves the reader guessing until the very end.
The novel follows the story of Margaret Lea, a biographer hired by a famous author to write her life story before her death. However, as Margaret dives deeper into the author’s past, she uncovers secrets that are dark and twisted.
Throughout the novel, Setterfield intersperses tales of the past, specifically those of the author’s own family, which adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative. The Thirteenth Tale is divided into three different parts, with each part revealing a new layer of the author’s past and Margaret’s present.
Setterfield also uses unique literary devices such as repeated motifs, symbolism, and a dual narrative structure where the author tells her own story in parallel with Margaret’s exploration of her past. This complex story structure will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.
Setterfield’s writing is lush and evocative, creating a vivid sense of place for the novel’s settings, including the sprawling Angelfield House and the English countryside. The book also tackles themes such as family relationships, identity, and loss, all while maintaining the gothic ambiance.
However, the book has its moments of dragging storylines, where the plot loses its momentum. At times Setterfield’s writing feels overwritten and the dialogue is stilted, which may disengage some readers.
Nevertheless, these moments are made up for by the grand reveal at the end of the book, which will leave the reader shocked and wanting more. Overall, The Thirteenth Tale is an enthralling and enchanting novel that will appeal to fans of gothic literature, suspenseful storytelling, and complex, multi-layered narratives.
Its strengths outweigh its flaws, and the book stands the test of time as a modern classic that any reader should have on their bookshelf. Settle in on a cold, dark winter night, with a mug of hot chocolate, and let Setterfield’s novel transport you to a different time and place.
Rating: 4/5.
