THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield
November 2016
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Born August 22, 1964, in Englefield, Berkshire, England; Education:Theale Green School, B.A., 1982; Bristol University, Ph.D., 1993. Addresses: Agent: Georges Borchardt, Inc., 136 E. 57th St., New York, NY 10022. Home: Oxford, England.
CAREER: Writer. Worked variously as an English teacher in France, a French professor, and as a private French teacher for people moving to France.
AWARDS: Quill Award for debut author of the year, 2007, for The Thirteenth Tale.
WORKS:
- The Thirteenth Tale (novel), 2006.
- Bellman & Black (novel), 2013.
MEDIA ADAPTATIONS:
The Thirteenth Tale was adapted for television by Christopher Hampton, BBC2, 2013.
Author’s website: http://www.dianesetterfield.com
Interesting Q & A on author’s website: http://www.dianesetterfield.com/faqs/
Diane lives in Oxford, in the UK. When not writing she reads widely, and when not actually reading she is usually talking or thinking about reading. She is, she says, ‘a reader first, a writer second.’
British novelist Diane Setterfield knows well the elements of the traditional Gothic novel: ghosts, ruined mansions, hints of long ago tragedy, and family mysteries, all wrapped up in an eerily suspenseful plot that gives away no secrets before their time. In addition to paying homage to the genre's forebears, she creates unique, memorable characters and presents familiar tropes with contemporary finesse. Her strong yet graceful storytelling carries readers through many twists and turns. Setterfield's work doesn't fit neatly into a single genre, which makes it appealing to many different readers.
Read alikes for title
1. The vanishing by Wendy Webb, Reason: These compelling, creepy, and atmospheric novels portray young women who accept positions at labyrinthine mansions where well known writers (long thought dead) reside. The Thirteenth Tale is more leisurely paced and subtle, while The Vanishing is faster paced and more menacing. Katherine Johnson
2. The distant hours by Kate Morton, Reason: Both The Distant Hours and The Thirteenth Tale employ traditional Gothic elements to spin haunting stories within stories about writers and family secrets, as they explore the power of stories in the characters' lives. Joyce Saricks
3. The monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, Reason: The modern Gothic stories Thirteenth Tale and Monsters of Templeton follow a female protagonist at a crossroads as she searches for the answers to deep family secrets. They also revolve around twisted family histories and employ an ethereal tone. Becky Spratford
4. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, Reason: These novels offer gothic suspense's classic creepy atmosphere, though with somewhat different storylines. Fingersmith takes place in Victorian England while The Thirteenth Tale is contemporary, but both emphasize books, mysteries about birth and identity, insanity, and grand houses. Shauna Griffin
5. The historian by Elizabeth Kostova, Reason: Using Gothic elements and literary references, both novels have a fairytale-like quality, balancing reality with a bit of magic as each female protagonist solves a mystery important to her. Intricate plots and rich details create lush literary landscapes in these novels. Lauren Havens
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