The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield

Characters
Current time of interview	Vida’s life story
Margaret Lea Father – owns Lea’s Antiquarian Booksellers Mother – depressed Moira - twin sister – deceased   Vida Winter – author, Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation   Judith – Vida’s housekeeper   Servants – Maurice and “The Missus”   Dr. Clifton – Vida’s doctor   Aurelius Alphonse Love – Margaret met at ruins of Angelfield house   Karen – parents Ambrose Proctor and Emmeline Thomas Ambrose Proctor - son	Vida Winter Adeline March Emmeline –Adeline’s  twin sister   George and Mathilde Angelfield –grandparents (Mathilde died at Isabelle’s birth) Charles - son Isabelle  - married Roland March – Adeline and Emmeline’s mother – committed to institution when daughters 13   Hester Barrow - governess   Servants – Maurice and “The Missus”   John-the-dig – John Digence – gardener – topiaries Ambrose Proctor – boy helping in garden   Dr. Maudsley – town doctor

For discussion:

 NOTE: Page numbers refer to the paperback edition

1. On page 4 the author wrote, “Reading can be dangerous.”  How can reading be dangerous?  Do you have any memories of something negative that happened while you were reading or as a result of your reading? 

2. As a reader, what descriptions of books and reading were your favorites?

*Page 10 – the father was described as “being in another world” when he was reading a book by Vida

*Page 27 – the anxiety about coming to the end of a book you are enjoying

*Page 29 – the frustration about not being able to read all books and having “to draw the line somewhere.”

*Pages 289-290 – how a book you just finished stays with you

3. On page 41 Margaret commented as she entered Vida’s library, “…what better way to get to know someone than through her choice and treatment of books?”  Do you agree?  What can you learn about someone through their books?

4. Discuss the various characters.  Could you understand why they did what they did?  Who was the most sympathetic?  Which character did you like the most?

5. Everyone in town had different opinions about Adeline and Emmeline as they were growing up – could not speak correctly, not aware of other people, crazy.   As the story unfolded, what did you think?

6. What did you think about Hester Barrow and Dr. Maudsley’s experiment separating the twins?  Did they have other motives than the twin’s best interest? 

7. What do you think could have been done to help the twins?

8. Was John’s death an accident or caused by someone?  Who would have caused his death and why?

9. What do you think happened to Hester Barrow?

10. How did you like the ending?  How did the ending change you understanding of the book?

11. What do you think the thirteenth tale was about?

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