Synopses & Reviews
Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting,
The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society.
Review
"Diamant vividly conjures up the ancient world of caravans, shepherds, farmers, midwives, slaves, and artisans...her Dinah is a compelling narrator that has timeless resonance." Merle Rubin, Christian Science Monitor
Review
"An intense, vivid novel...It is tempting to say that The Red Tent is what the Bible would be like if it had been written by women, but only Diamant could have given it such sweep and grace." The Boston Globe
Review
"[A] vivid evocation of the world of Old Testament women....Diamant succeeds admirably." Publishers Weekly
Review
"The oldest story of all could never seem more original, more true." James Carroll, author of An American Requiem
About the Author
Anita Diamant
is an award-winning journalist and author of five books about contemporary Jewish life including
The New Jewish Wedding and
Choosing a Jewish Life: Guidebook for People Converting to Judaism and for their Family and Friends. She lives in Newton, Massachusetts, with her husband and daughter.