The Thirteenth Tale

Every youngster makes myths about their birth.This is the opening line of the collection of tales written by reclusive author Vida Winter. The stories are known as much for the joy and magic of the twelve that do exist as they are for the mystery surrounding the thirteenth story that goes missing.

The mysterious Winter has spent the last sixty years fabricating a number of bizarre life tales for herself, all of which have garnered her wealth and notoriety while concealing her horrific and violent background. She now wants to share the truth about her remarkable life now that she is elderly and ill. She calls upon biographer Margaret Lea, a young lady for whom the sorrow of having her own birth secret kept concealed by people closest to her still lingers. Margaret accepts the assignment after realizing there is an intriguing similarity between Miss Winter's tale and her own.

Margaret is enthralled as Vida unravels the life she intended to permanently bury. The Angelfield family, including the striking and determined Isabelle, the ferocious twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden, and a destructive fire, are all included in this story of gothic oddity.

Margaret gives in to Vida's narrative skills, but she doesn't believe the writer is sincere. She presses Vida for the truth, and the two of them face the horrors that have tormented them while ultimately being changed by the truth.

A tribute to reading, The Thirteenth Tale is a novel for the untamed reader in all of us and a journey back to the rich tradition of storytelling that both our parents and we enjoyed as kids. Diane Setterfield will leave you wondering, moved to tears and laughter, and ultimately left you breathless yet content to return to the familiar shores of your daily existence.