The Thirteenth Tale

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of rape and sexual violence.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What aspect of The Thirteenth Tale—such as its gothic elements, mystery plot, or family drama—resonated with you most deeply?

2. Gothic literature often features crumbling estates, family secrets, and hints of the supernatural. Did these elements enhance your reading experience or distract from the central narrative?

3. The Thirteenth Tale blends reality with elements of fairy tales and ghost stories. In what ways does this approach differ from Setterfield’s later work in Once Upon a River, which also weaves supernatural elements into its historical setting? If you haven’t read her other work, can you think of other novels you’ve read that blend reality with magical stories?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Margaret’s relationship with her deceased twin shapes her entire identity. When has an absence in your own life profoundly influenced who you are?

2. Throughout the novel, books provide both escape and connection for Margaret. What specific book has played a similarly important role during a challenging time in your life?

3. We watch Vida physically transform as she reveals her true story, shedding her elaborate disguises. Have you ever used external appearances to mask or protect your inner self?

4. The gardens at Angelfield and Vida’s estate reflect their caretakers’ inner lives. What space in your own context similarly mirrors something essential about who you are?

5. Did you find yourself more drawn to Margaret’s personal journey or to Vida’s haunting past? What elements of either character’s story connected most deeply with your own experiences?

6. The novel explores how we construct narratives about our lives to make them more bearable. When have you found yourself creating a more palatable version of your own truth?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Hester’s academic ambitions are thwarted by the gender expectations of her era, forcing her to collaborate with Dr. Maudsley to publish her work. What examples of similar gender prejudice do you see in contemporary academic or creative fields?

2. Several characters in the novel are hidden away because they don’t conform to society’s expectations. Where do you see similar patterns of exclusion in our world today?

3. The relationship between storytelling and truth runs throughout the novel. Do you think our contemporary media environment, with its concerns about “fake news” and constructed narratives, reflects similar tensions to those Setterfield explores?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What purpose does the recurring motif of mist serve in creating both atmosphere and meaning throughout the novel?

2. Fiction’s so-called rule of three appears repeatedly in the novel, from Margaret’s request for three verifiable facts to Mrs. Love turning the heel of her sock three times. How does this pattern contribute to both the fairy tale quality and the novel’s revelations?

3. Stories exist within stories throughout the novel—Margaret’s own tale, Vida’s biography, and the 13th tale itself. In what ways does this layered narrative approach reinforce the book’s central themes?

4. Names and identities shift constantly in the novel, from Vida’s many aliases to characters being mistaken for one another. What does Setterfield suggest about the relationship between naming and identity?

5. The discovery of a third child at Angelfield changes everything about how we understand the story. Did you see this twist coming? How did it transform your interpretation of earlier events in the novel?

6. Jane Eyre serves as a touchstone throughout the narrative, with direct references and thematic parallels. Why do you think Setterfield chose this particular work as a framework for her own story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The 13th tale is a dark retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of a woman who was raped and abandoned. Which fairy tale would you reimagine through Setterfield’s gothic lens, and from whose viewpoint?

2. Imagine Margaret decides to write her own biography after the events of the novel. What would be the title, and which aspects of her experience with Vida would feature most prominently?

3. At the end of the novel, Aurelius discovers his true identity and connects with his sister Karen’s family. Write a paragraph describing the challenges and opportunities that unfold for him in the five years following the story’s conclusion.

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