The Red Tent

By Anita Diamant

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Average Rating: (See all 6 reviews) Format: Paperback, 336 pages, New edition Edition Other Information: geneal. tables Published In: United Kingdom, 08 March 2002 Quantity Available: 1 24 hour shipping Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the "Book of Genesis" that recount the life of Jacob and his infamous dozen sons. The "Red Tent" is an extraordinary and engrossing tale of ancient womanhood and family honour. Told in Dinah's voice, it opens with the story of her mothers - the four wives of Jacob - each of whom embodies unique feminine traits, and concludes with Dinah's own startling and unforgettable story of betrayal, grief and love. Deeply affecting and intimate, "The Red Tent" combines outstandingly rich storytelling with an original insight into women's society in a fascinating period of early history and such is its warmth and candour, it is guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of women across the world. 'If you don't read it you'll be missing out' - Eve. 'I genuinely fell into this rich and colourful world and Dinah and Leah have stayed with me as ancestors and sisters brought to life by Anita Diamant's imaginative novel' - "Maureen Lipman". Reviews 'If you don't read it you'll be missing out' Eve; 'I genuinely fell into this rich and colourful world and Dinah and Leah have stayed with me as ancestors and sisters brought to life by Anita Diamant's imaginative novel' Maureen Lipman About the Author Anita Diamant is an award-winning journalist and author of six books about contemporary Jewish life. The Red Tent is her first novel and it has become an international bestselling phenomenon, selling over a million copies to date in America alone. Publisher: Pan Books ISBN: 0330487965 EAN: 9780330487962 Dimensions: 19.0 x 130.0 x 2.0 centimeters

"'My name means nothing to you. My memory is dust. This is not your fault or mine. The chain connecting mother to daughter was broken and the word passed to the keeping of men, who had no way of knowing. That is why I became a footnote, my story a brief detour between the well-known history of my father Jacob, and the celebrated chronicle of Joseph, my brother..."

This is a beautiful novel, every page a sumptuous delight... I thoroughly enjoyed Diamant's retelling of the Dinah story, told from Dinah's perspective, and her life under her four mothers and the patriarch Jacob... a must-read.

An amazing insight into the lives of women in old testament bible times. Although the book does not claim to be historically acuarate, Diamant does use historical facts about the time and area the story is set in to make it more believeable. The women in the story are written in a way that makes them easy to relate to. I'd suggest reading the story in the Bible as a comparison. It's not quite as detailed, however, and does not show the story from Dinah's point of view. The Red Tent is an interesting take on a Biblical event and a good read if you take it with a grain of salt.

An enthralling and fascinating read, this story beautifully narrates the way of life of women at a point of time in history using the interesting device of basing it on biblical characters. No its not meant to be non fiction as one previous reviewer seemed to think before picking it up, but that doesn't make the tale any worth less being told - a great read!!

There are no claims anywhere in this book as to the historical accuracy of the story - it is a novel, at the very most an interpretation of a bible story - so the for the previous reviewer to trash it (without even reading it!) for not being a factual account of events is just absurd. It is a tragic but beautifully told family saga, independent of the politics of biblical history, but supremely it is a homage to women and the women who support women - through birth, life and death. If any lesson from a religious perspective is to be taken, it is an appreciation for the potential depth of scripture, which in contrast to this book can appear at times remote, foreign and unfamiliar.

I really enjoyed this incite into a foreign culture. It gave an entertaining window into life, love that binds women and family obligation, loved by our bookclub.

I have started this book and am really uncertain as to whether I will bother finishing it. Diamant is presumptuous at best, adding all sorts of fallacies to biblical stories. If you uphold the bible as truth, I wouldn't suggest you read this book. It is also full of idol worship and feminist agendas... I wont bother finishing it, but I can see from the first ten-to-twelve pages that it would be a powerful story...