The Thirteenth Tale is the story of Vida Winter, a best-selling British writer nearing the end of her life, and Margaret Lea, the youngish apprentice bookseller and part-time biographer, whom Ms. Winter has chosen to write her life story. The problem is that Ms. Winter has spent her life telling stories -- including 19 different ones about her background and childhood.
The Thirteenth Tale is, of course, Ms. Winter's final tale. As it unfolds, the reader meets a troubled family, right out of the pages of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, and a crumbling Gothic mansion called Anglefield, reminiscent of Rebecca's Manderley. There is a secret garden, confused identities, and tragedy, all in the Gothic tradition. But, although this novel pays homage to those great novels that came before, it stands well on its own. To add another layer, Margaret has ghosts of her own, ghosts that are awakened as she hears Ms. Winter's story.
The Thirteenth Tale is a wonderful and unexpected surprise. If you're a fan of DuMaurier, Bronte, Dickens, or even Agatha Christie, you're sure to enjoy this novel.
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