The Thirteenth Tale

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield

Although a modern novel, this book seems to be styled after the 19th century gothic novels that are mentioned in its pages. It really reads like one of the old classics, and I wonder why it is not yet a movie.

The plot is somewhat complicated, but is this: Margaret Lea works in a second-hand bookshop owned by her father and has known books all her life. However, she's never dealt with modern fiction, so she is surprised when a famous author contacts her to be her biographer. Adding to the surprise is that every newspaper interviewer who has asked about her life is given a different story, and questions arise about why the author has decided finally to share her story.

This author, Vida Winter, is known for publishing a book of twelve re-fashioned fairy tales, however in the original publication the title of the book problaimed it to be thirteen. Ever since then, the public has wondered about the thirteenth tale.

If the thirteenth tale is actually the story of her early life, then it involves death in childbirth, grief, incest, illegitimate-or-maybe-not children, rape, a ghost, a governess, a mansion in decay, more death, more illegitimate children, and a horrible fire. I'd love to share more, but I don't think I can without spoilers. The story is very intriguing, and while the reader may always have some kind of guess as to where the author is going with the plot, the author is always one step ahead, and merely leading you to be just where she wants you. At the same time that Margaret Lea has an "AHA" moment, the reader also has one, or perhaps a few moments later. All the pieces suddenly come together, and you realize the clues have been there all along, throughout the entire story, but you have no idea why you didn't piece it together before this.

It was quite a fascinating read, and I would suggest it to anyone who likes a good plot, a good ghost story, 19th century literature, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, or anything written by Austen or a Bronte for that matter.