Who Wrote The Book The Red Tent

Fiction Book Review: Red Tent by Anita Diamant, Author St. Martin’s Press $26.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-312-16978-7

In this evocative portrayal of the world of Old Testament women, a minor figure from the book of Genesis relates her life story as told by her mother. Dinah, the sole surviving daughter of Jacob and Leah, lives in a world that is very different from that of her brothers, who tend flocks and do business. In addition to learning the intricacies of midwifery from her Aunt Rachel, she also learns about homemaking from her other aunts. Foremost among these is the fact that Dinah is able to absorb and maintain the tales and traditions of her family, which she then shares with the reader in a touchingly intimate manner.

Women’s Red Tent (where women retreat for menstruation, childbirth, and illness) becomes a resonant symbol of womanly strength, love, and wisdom in Diamant’s fiction debut, which follows several nonfiction works on Judaism (Living a Jewish Life, etc.).

(Oct.) On September 15, 1997, the document was reviewed.

336 pages in an open ebook ISBN 978-1-4299-0363-9 (hardcover) Hardcover book with 424 pages.

  1. – ISBN: 978-0-312-42729 Pages on a Compact Disc – 12 ISBN 978-1-55927-709-9 (hardcover) 321 pages in a paperback format 978-0-330-50707-3 is the ISBN for the ebook.
  2. Book in paperback (ISBN 978-1-56895-184-3).
  3. – 978-0-312-35376-6 (hardcover) Prebound and sewn together – 336 pages ISBN 978-1-4176-1646-6 (hardcover) The ISBN for the Pre-Recorded Audio Player is 978-1-4272-2835-2.
  4. The book is paperbound and has 416 pages.
  5. Other file types should be shown.

The Red Tent (Diamant novel) – Wikipedia

The Red Tent

Cover of the first-edition hardcover
Author Anita Diamant
Country United States
Language English
Genre Historical fiction
Publisher A Wyatt Book forSt. Martin’s Press
Publication date October 1997
Media type Print (hardcover, paperback)
Pages 321 pp. (hardcover edition)
ISBN 0-312-35376-6
OCLC 62322613
LC Class PS3554.I227 R43 2005

The Red Tentis a historical fiction written by Anita Diamant, which was first published in 1997 by Wyatt Books for St. Martin’s Press (now St. Martin’s Press). A first-person narrative, it narrates the story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and Leah, Joseph’s sister, in the first person. She is only a minor character in the Bible, but the author has given her a more complex backstory.

The title of the novel alludes to the tent in which women of Jacob’s tribe are required to seek sanctuary while menstruation or giving birth, and in which they can receive mutual support and encouragement from their mothers, sisters, and aunts, according to old law.

Plot summary

Readers will learn about Dinah’s motherLeaand fatherJacob’s marriage and the extension of the family to include Leah’s sister Rachel, as well as the handmaidsZilpaandBilhah, as Dinah starts the tale for the first time. Leah is portrayed as capable but testy, Rachel as a bit of a belle, but kind and creative, Zilpah as quirky and spiritual, and Bilhah as the kind and quiet one of the four women. Dinah recalls sitting in the red tent with her mother and aunts, catching up on local news and taking care of household chores in between visits to Jacob, the family patriarch, as she grew up.

Genesis 34 tells the story of Dinah being “defiled” by a prince of Shechem, who is depicted as being sincerely in love with Dinah, according to the Bible’s narrative.

Because they are dissatisfied with the way the prince treated their sister, her brothersSimeon(spelled “Simon” in the book) and Levirecherously tell the Shechemites that everything will be forgiven if the prince and his men undergo the Jewish rite of circumcision(brit milah) in order to unite the people of Hamor, king of Shechem, with the tribe of Jacob.

In the novel The Red Tent, Dinah is sincerely in love with the prince and agrees to become his bride.

After blaming her brothers and father, she flees to Egypt, where she gives birth to a baby who is named after her father.

She pays a visit to her estranged family following Jacob’s death.

Reception

The book was a New York Times best-seller, and discussion guides for book clubs have been prepared to accompany it. As reported by the Los Angeles Timesreview, “The work has struck a chord with women who may have felt left out of biblical history by providing a voice to Dinah, one of the book of Genesis’s mute female characters. It is a celebration of mothers and daughters, as well as the secrets of the human life cycle.” The novel, according to the Christian Science Monitor, is “The ancient world of caravans, shepherds, farmers, midwives, slaves, and artists is brought to life in vivid detail.

Historical accuracy and context

The book was a New York Times best-seller, and discussion guides for book clubs have been developed to go along with the publication. In accordance with theLos Angeles Timesreview “A number of women who may have been marginalized by biblical history may have found comfort in the novel’s giving voice to Dinah, one of the book’s mute female protagonists. It honors mothers and daughters, as well as the mysticism of the life cycle.” ‘The novel,’ according to the Christian Science Monitor, “caravans, shepherds, farmers, midwives, slaves, and artists come to life in a realistic representation of the ancient world.

Throughout the story, Diamant is a fascinating narrator who tells a story that has eternal relevance.”

Adaptations

The novel was turned into a two-part miniseries by Lifetime, which broadcast on December 7th and 8th, 2014. Rebecca Ferguson is the actress that plays Dinah. Leah is played by Minnie Driver, while Rachel is played by Morena Baccarin in this film.

See also

  • Menstrual hygiene and culture
  • Niddah, a ceremonial cleansing bath
  • Mikvah
  • Niddah, a ritual purification bath

General references

  • Anita Diamant is an actress and model (1997). Avram Rothman’s The Red Tent (ISBN 0-312-16978-7) is a novel about Rabbi J. Avram Rothman’s relationship with Dina. Vladimir Tumanov was interviewed by Aish.com in June 2001. ” Dinah’s Rage – The Retelling of Genesis 34 in Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent and Thomas Mann’s Joseph and his Brothers” is the title of the article. Vladimir Tumanov’s article appeared in Canadian Review of Comparative Literature 34 (2007) 4: 375-388. In Thomas Mann’s Joseph and His Brothers as well as Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, “Yahweh vs. the Teraphim: Jacob’s Pagan Wives” is discussed. The initial version of The Red Tent was featured in Nebula: A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship4 (2007) 2: 139-151

Citations

Anita Diamant is an actress and model. 1 068,734 times shelved with an average rating of 4.11 based on 672,689 ratings and 33,871 reviews. There are 22 different pieces on display.

The Red TentbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)4.19 avg rating — 553,519 ratings— published 1997 — 97 editions
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The Boston GirlbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.82 avg rating — 81,017 ratings— published 2014 — 30 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Day After NightbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.67 avg rating — 14,111 ratings— published 2009 — 25 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
The Last Days of DogtownbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.44 avg rating — 11,438 ratings— published 2005 — 30 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Good HarborbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.27 avg rating — 7,679 ratings— published 2001 — 23 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and FriendsbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)4.18 avg rating — 1,805 ratings— published 1998 — 9 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Living a Jewish LifebyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author),Howard Cooper4.14 avg rating — 959 ratings— published 1991 — 12 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
New Jewish Wedding, RevisedbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.97 avg rating — 826 ratings— published 1985 — 10 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Period. End of Sentence.: A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual JusticebyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author),Melissa Berton(Contributor)4.27 avg rating — 335 ratings— published 2021 — 7 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Pitching My Tent: On Marriage, Motherhood, Friendship, and Other Leaps of FaithbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.54 avg rating — 315 ratings— published 2003 — 13 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
The Jewish Wedding NowbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)4.10 avg rating — 185 ratings Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead, and Mourn as a JewbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)4.22 avg rating — 170 ratings— published 1998 — 7 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
How to Be a Jewish Parent: A Practical Handbook for Family LifebyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author),Karen Kushner3.96 avg rating — 121 ratings— published 2000 — 9 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
The New Jewish Baby Book: Names, CeremoniesCustoms-A Guide for Today’s FamiliesbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.59 avg rating — 110 ratings— published 1988 — 8 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Life and Death in the NurserybyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)3.42 avg rating — 73 ratings Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
New Jewish Feminism: Probing the Past, Forging the FuturebyElyse Goldstein(Editor),Anita Diamant(Goodreads Author)(Foreword)3.65 avg rating — 20 ratings— published 2008 — 7 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
La tenda rossabyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author),Giulia Porcellato(Translator),Niccolò Porcellato(Translator)4.88 avg rating — 8 ratings Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Bible Baby Names: Spiritual Choices from Judeo-Christian SourcesbyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author),Jewish Lights Pub.3.75 avg rating — 8 ratings— published 1996 — 5 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
The Red Tent (SparkNotes Literature Guide)bySparkNotes,Anita Diamant(Goodreads Author)really liked it4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings— 4 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
What to Name Your Jewish BabybyAnita Diamant(Goodreads Author)4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings— published 1989 Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Guide to Jewish Interfaith Family Life: An Interfaithfamily.com HandbookbyEdmund Case(Goodreads Author)(Editor),Anita Diamant(Goodreads Author)(Foreword),Ronnie Friedland(Editor)3.20 avg rating — 5 ratings— published 2001 — 5 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
New Jewish Baby Album: Creating and Celebrating the Beginning of a Spiritual Lifeaa Jewish Lights CompanionbyJewish Lights Publishing(Editor),Editors at Jewish Lights(Editor),Anita Diamant(Goodreads Author)(Foreword),Sandy Eisenberg Sasso(Goodreads Author)(Preface)3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings— published 2003 — 2 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again.Rate this bookClear rating1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars

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The Red Tent: A Novel: Diamant, Anita: 9780312169787: Amazon.com: Books

A little excerpt of the material is available; double tap to view the complete excerpt. Double touch to view the abbreviated content if the full material is not accessible. As the author of my first novel, THE RED TENT (which was published in 2014), I re-imagined biblical women’s culture as intimate, sustaining, and powerful despite the fact that they were confined and vulnerable in all aspects of their lives, including their bodies, their minds, and their spirits. My latest book, PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE, takes a completely different approach to the subject of women’s bodies and independence.

  1. Conclude of Sentence., informed the audience that “a period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education,” when the film was nominated for an Oscar in 2019.
  2. However, the book also highlights a new generation of activists and inventors who are trying to eradicate period poverty and stigma, as well as exploring the developing world of period products, advertising, activism art, and comedic relief for the period-poor.
  3. It was also one of the first places I was allowed to do so.
  4. I went there every week, and I can still draw a map of it.
  5. I read numerous biographies, including those of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, and Helen Keller, who shares my birthdate with Eleanor Roosevelt.
  6. After hearing a grown-up talk about the book, I decided it sounded fascinating.
  7. My decision was justified.

Eventually, the librarian yielded, and I was able to stroll triumphantly back to my apartment. I got access to the MASSIVE LIBRARY of the university. My life will never be the same after that.

How ‘The Red Tent’ invented a new kind of fiction

Journalists for the Advancement of Science and Technology (JTA) — Anita Diamant, a freelance writer and author of numerous nonfiction works about Jewish practice, including “The New Jewish Wedding,” was anticipating the release of her debut novel twenty years ago this summer. Diamant was working on her first novel at the time. It was a piece of historical fiction set in biblical times that concentrated on the narrative of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob and Leah, and her relationship with her father, Jacob.

  1. The novel has sold millions of copies all over the world, and it was made into a Lifetime miniseries starring Minnie Driver in 2014, which was shown in 2014.
  2. Diamant, on the other hand, had no expectations of such amazing achievement.
  3. “It was never a given that the book would be published,” Diamant said.
  4. Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition sent to your inbox every day.
  5. Dinah is a character who appears just briefly in the Bible, and her narrative is a particularly horrific one.
  6. During this time, Diamant also worked on other writing projects and spent around three years authoring “The Red Tent.” After a while, it was sold to St.
  7. Although it was a first work, it did quite well in sales and was later reprinted in paperback.

At that time, Diamant had a thought: why not ship the books directly to certain groups of readers instead of to the whole public?

Several hundred copies of the book were sent to members of the Reconstructionist Rabbinic Assembly.

The news of “The Red Tent” began to spread from there.

“The Red Tent” was awarded the Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Adult Fiction in June 2001, over four years after it was first published.

Since then, Diamant has released four novels and has continued to produce nonfiction as well.

“I’m still a little surprised by how well it’s done.

Others have stated that “The Red Tent” has encouraged them to pursue careers as artisanal bread makers or to study the Bible — or even to compose their own works of biblical fiction.

In many cases, such as Diamant’s work, these novels provide a platform to characters who are less well-known (and frequently female).

Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah’s Wife is a novel about Noah’s wife (Howard Books, 2013) Rebecca Kanner contributed to this article.

With the publication of Kanner’s debut novel, she finally has a voice — albeit not yet a name — as she recounts her early years, her marriage and family, as well as the events of the voyage on the big ship.

Each of the nine stories contained inside this book tells the story of a biblical lady.

Those who are less well-known, such as Zeresh, Haman’s not-so-nice wife, who suffers the same repercussions as her husband when his evil scheme goes astray, are the center of other stories.

King David, the central character of this tale, is not a minor biblical person by any means.

The Secret Book of Kings (St.

Yochi Brandes wrote the piece, and Yardenne Greenspan translated it.

Even at the start of his study, Brandes said in the preface, “I recognized that a historical novel about the destruction of Saul’s house at the hands of David could not be told through the eyes of a single protagonist.” It is for this reason that this novel, released in Israel in 2008 under the title “Kings III,” became a best-seller there.

The Story of David and the Philistine Woman (Top Hat Books, 2017) Written by Paul Boorstin Several stories about King David and his contemporaries, especially the ferocious Goliath, are retold in this novel.

A new female character is introduced by Boorstin: Goliath’s wife Nara, who in this version has a significant effect on the result of one of the most famous biblical wars.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant: Summary and reviews

Journalists for the Advancement of Science and Technology (JTA) Anita Diamant, a freelance writer and author of numerous nonfiction works about Jewish practice, including “The New Jewish Wedding,” was eagerly expecting the release of her debut novel twenty years ago this summer, which was set to be published this fall. Ishmael was a piece of historical fiction set in biblical times that revolved around Dinah, the sole daughter of Jacob and Leah, and her family. The title of the book was “The Red Tent,” and it has since become an iconic work of literature in the United States.

  • While initially released in 1997, “The Red Tent” did not quickly become a best-seller.
  • According to Diamant, in a recent interview with JTA, “it was not a guarantee that the book would be published” at all, citing the difficulties she had in attempting to locate a literary agency to represent the idea.
  • The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition can be obtained by clicking on the button below.
  • Dinah is a character who appears just briefly in the Bible, and her narrative is one of violence.
  • ‘The Red Tent’ took Diamant around three years to write, in addition to her efforts on other other projects.
  • Martin’s Press, however Diamant was not compensated.
  • Although some hardback copies were still in stock, the publisher planned to destroy (or “pulp”) the remainder.
  • Members of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, a group of women rabbis in the Reform movement, received numerous copies once the publisher approved.
  • Letters of recommendation from the presidents of both organizations, who happened to be personal friends of Diamant, accompanied the books in both instances.
  • In the end, Diamant attributes the novel’s success to independent book stores and book clubs, among other factors.
  • The award is currently known as the Indies Choice Book Award.

This year’s re-release of “The Jewish Wedding Now” is an update, re-design, and revision of the original “The New Jewish Wedding.” With regard to “The Red Tent,” Diamant expressed his gratitude to his readers, saying, “I’m forever thankful to those for whom the book has been so meaningful.” “However, it might imply a variety of things to different people.” The fact that it was so successful continues to astound me.

  1. “I’m moved by how many people use it as a source of inspiration for a variety of projects.
  2. Those who have read “The Red Tent” have stated that it has motivated them to become artisanal bread makers, to study the Bible, or to compose their own works of biblical fiction.
  3. In many situations, such as in Diamant’s work, these novels provide a platform to persons who are less well-known (and frequently women).
  4. It is the untold story of Noah’s wife that has been told in Sinners and the Sea (Howard Books, 2013) Rebecca Kanner contributed to this report.
  5. With the publication of Kanner’s debut novel, she now has a voice — albeit not yet a name — as she recounts her early years, her marriage and family, as well as the events of the voyage aboard the massive ship.
  6. Several are well-known, such as Miriam, who casts a floating basket with her baby brother adrift in the Nile, pursues its route, and eventually comes face to face with the lady who recovers it: the daughter of Pharaoh.
  7. Chords that are hidden from view (Viking, 2015) Geraldine Brooks contributed to this report.
  8. But he had a broad network of friends, and Brooks pays particular attention to many of the personalities — men and women, such as the prophet Natan and Nizevet, David’s mother — who were closest to him in this chronicle of major moments in David’s life, including the prophet Natan.
  9. Martin’s Press, 2016) is a novel about a secret society that keeps its secrets.
  10. The biblical princess Michal, who is most commonly recognized as either King Saul’s daughter or King David’s bride, served as the basis for this novel.
  11. The story of David and the Philistine Woman is told in the Bible (Top Hat Books, 2017) Paul Boorstin’s contribution Several stories about King David and his contemporaries, especially the ferocious Goliath, are reimagined in this novel.

A new female character is introduced by Boorstin: Goliath’s wife Nara, who in this narrative has a significant impact on the result of one of the most famous fights in biblical history.

Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers!

The Red Tent narrates the little-known Biblical account of Dinah, the daughter of the patriarch Jacob and his wife, Leah, who was raised in a tent by her grandmother. Dinah’s story is told in Chapter 34 of the Book of Genesis, and it is a brief, horrifying diversion from the usual story of Jacob and Joseph. Anita Diamant narrates the narrative in a unique and inventive way, from the perspective of the ladies in the story. Although Dinah is not given a voice in the Biblical story of her mother, she serves as the narrator of The Red Tent, which depicts the existence of ancient womanhood—the world of the red tent.

This guide can assist in generating innovative discussions about the timeless narrative.

  1. Take a look at Genesis 34 and talk about how the Red Tent impacts your view on Dinah’s story.

The Red Tent

The Red Tent is a fiction series with a title of The Red Tent. St. Martin’s Paperbacks is the publisher of this book. ISBN13:978-1250067999 Purchase the book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, or IndieBound. Overview ‘The Red Tent’ is the narrative of Dinah, who appears as a minor figure in Genesis, chapter 34. It is customary to refer to the brief event in which she appears as the “rape of Dinah,” a violent occurrence that has presented challenges for biblical academics over the years. In the biblical narrative, Dinah does not speak a single word; instead, her brothers relate and define what happened to her throughout the course of the story.

Despite the fact that The Red Tent is historical fiction, many readers identify with its cast of characters since it is based on a biblical event.

Because of positive word-of-mouth, The Red Tent became a best-selling paperback novel when it was first published in 1997.

The Red Tent, a perennial favorite among reading groups, has been published in 25 countries and was turned into a miniseries by Lifetime TV, which premiered in 2014.

One may argue that “The Red Tentis what the Bible would have looked like if it were written by women,” but only Diamant could have given it such sweep and elegance.” —Boston Globe & Herald “Diamant wonderfully conjures up the ancient world of caravans, farmers, midwives, slaves, and artists.

  1. The story of a fictional flight based on the Genesis mention of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, disavows her as a mere “defiled” victim and, further, celebrates the ancient continuity and unity of women.
  2. “For a liberal Bible readership with a potential spillover effect on the Bradley connection,” the author writes.
  3. She learns the mysteries of midwifery from her Aunt Sarah, and she learns the skill of homemaking from her other aunts as well.
  4. As Dinah fills in the gaps left by the Bible on Jacob’s courting of Rachel and Leah, her own ill-fated stint in the city of Shechem, and her half-brother Joseph’s ascent to fame and riches in Egypt, familiar passages from the Bible come to life.
  5. As Diamant’s sweeping debut novel re-creates the life of Dinah, daughter of Leah and Jacob, from her birth and joyful childhood in Mesopotamia to her years in Canaan and death in Egypt, she skillfully interweaves biblical narratives with characters of her own invention.
  6. Her mother and Jacob’s three other wives also introduce her into these practices.

The author has created an immensely fun and informative portrayal of a fascinating lady and the life she may have led.” “Diamant has written a totally enjoyable and enlightening portrait of a fascinating woman and the life she might have led.” —starred review in the Library Journal The author’s “earthy, impassioned narrative, delivered with exquisite delicacy and sensitivity, is, quite simply, a wonderful read.” —The Catholic Reporter’s Reading Group GuideFrequently Asked Questions All paperback copies of The Red Tent include a READING GROUP GUIDE that may be found at the back of the book.

  • Frequently Asked Questions are included below.
  • In my studies, I was particularly interested in the ordinary lives of women in the ancient Near East.
  • At Radcliffe College, I was the recipient of a library fellowship at the Schlesinger Library on the History of American Women, which provided me with access to the whole Harvard University Library system.
  • More information may be found here.
  • Could you discuss the creative difficulties you had in effectively adding your own chapter into the Bible and bringing flesh and voice to biblical figures?
  • Taking the time to concentrate just on the words printed on a page of the Bible, you will notice that the language is quite minimal.
  • What time is it in the day?

Not as an additional chapter in the Bible, but as a book, I wrote The Red Tentas.

Because I did not consider my effort to be intellectual or religious in nature, I was not frightened by the process.

However, I meant to deviate from the text in order to make the tale my own from the beginning.

You have no concept of what my name represents.

It is not your or my fault that this has happened.

That is why I was reduced to a footnote in history, my life a brief diversion from the well-known narrative of my father, Jacob, and the famed story of Joseph, my brother’s life.

When I was recognized, it was always as a victim, which was a rare occurrence. There is a paragraph towards the opening of your holy book that appears to imply I was raped and then proceeds to tell the horrific story of how my honor was avenged. Continue reading for the entire excerpt.

The Red Tent: Key Facts

Title in its entirety Some believe it to be a midrash; others consider it to be a novel. The Red Tent is written in the English language. English date, time, and location written From 1994 through 1996, the state of Massachusetts the date on which the first edition was published The month of October 1997 publisher narrator from St. Martin’s Press The work is a chronicle of Dinah’s life, told in the first-person narrative of the main character. As well as recounting her life, she also includes the lives of her mother and grandmothers in her narrative.

  1. an individual’s point of view Tone in the first person (Dinah) Dinah expresses grief and guilt over the fact that the tale of her life has been reduced to a few footnotes in the Old Testament, and she wishes to share the truth about her life and her family with the world.
  2. tense Making a copy of a previous setup (time) When Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the Jewish Patriarchs (fathers of the nation), The Middle Bronze Age is defined as the period between 1800 and 1500 b.c., which is roughly equivalent to 1800 to 1500 b.c.
  3. protagonist There is a significant fight here.
  4. When she falls in love with a prince from Shechem, her father refuses to offer her hand in marriage until all of the men of Shechem agree to be circumcised and to worship Jacob’s deity in their own temples, which she eventually agrees to.
  5. She blames her family and flees to Egypt, where she becomes pregnant.rising action Dinah’s development into adolescence, as well as her yearning to become womanhood.
  6. Jacob’s judgment deteriorates as he strives for greater power and fortune.
  7. activity in which there is a fall Dinah’s flight to Egypt, as well as the months she spent waiting for the birth of her son, are all well documented.
  8. Symbols of healing and renewal, motherhood, and dreams The teraphim, the scarlet tent, and the midwives’ bricks are all symbols of fertility.

Among the other foreshadowing elements are her grandmother’s prediction, made by Rebecca, the renowned oracle, that Dinah will experience some sadness in her life, as well as frequent references to Simon and Levi’s cruelty, as well as a graphic description of the ceremony to open Dinah’s womb after her first period.

The Red Tent: Anita Diamant and The Red Tent Background

In 1951, Anita Diamant was born in New York City to two Holocaust survivors, and she is the daughter of both survivors. She spent the most of her life in Newark, New Jersey, until relocating to Denver, Colorado, when she was twelve years old. The University of Colorado provided her with her first two years of higher education, after which she proceeded to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in comparative literature in 1973. A master’s degree in English was awarded to her by the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1975, and she continued her education there.

  1. Diamant began her professional journalism career in 1975 as a freelance writer in the Boston region.
  2. When she first started writing on modern Jewish practice and the Jewish community in 1985, she was published in Reform Judaismmagazine, Hadassahmagazine, and the webzine.
  3. Using the short but horrific narrative of Dinah, the sole daughter of Jacob described in Genesis 34 as the basis for her debut novel, Diamant expands the story into a full-length novel.
  4. “I did not set out to explain or modify the biblical text,” Diamant writes.

As a matter of fact, those familiar with the story are frequently surprised by Diamant’s retelling: the author alters significant portions of the Bible’s narrative, which primarily focuses on men and their relationships with God, in order to make her novel a story about women and their relationships with one another.

Diamant’s version of Dinah’s life has been criticized by some, primarily devout Jewish and Christian scholars, who believe she has blasphemed against the Bible by altering fundamental elements of the stories of Jacob and his wives, and portraying Leah and Rachel as polytheistic—a portrayal that directly contradicts the Judeo-Christian belief that Leah and Rachel were the matriarchal founders of the Jewish people and the pioneers of monotheism.

Less devoutly religious readers have occasionally referred to The Red Tent as a midrash, which is a tale that seeks to fill in gaps in the biblical narrative.

Modern midrashim make an attempt to make stories from the Bible more relevant to today’s audiences by modernizing them.

The midrash-making process, according to Professor Howard Schwartz of the University of Missouri, as mentioned in the Bonny Fetterman essay, is “a continuous process of reintegration of the past into the present.” Each time this occurs, the tradition is altered and must be re-imagined from the ground up.

  • The Red Tent is a novel that goes beyond the traditional function of midrashim.
  • Amid much ado about how her work is not a midrash, Diamant herself has emphasized explicitly that it is just a novel about a biblical character.
  • Unlike the biblical tale, where women are often peripheral and frequently completely mute, it is told from and about their perspectives and viewpoints, as well as their viewpoints and viewpoints.
  • In composing The Red Tent, she hoped to give Dinah with a platform from which to express herself, something that was not available to her in the Bible.
  • Regardless matter how it is categorized, the novel has achieved considerable success.
  • Despite receiving few favorable reviews in major newspapers or magazines, it was able to achieve widespread success through word-of-mouth, reader devotion, backing from independent booksellers, and assistance from clergy, some of whom even spoke about The Red Tent from the pulpit.

It went on to become a New York Times best-seller as well as the Booksense Book of the Year in 2001. Diamant has now published a second novel, Good Harbor, which is set in the same world as the first.

The Red Tent

This beautiful and thought-provoking work relates the story of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter, who was lost to history due to the chronicles of men. The narrative is told in the Book of Genesis and has become an international publishing success. To you, my given name means nothing at all. My recollection is a stale husk. It’s not your fault or mine that this has happened. The link between mother and daughter had been severed, and the message had been entrusted to the care of men who had no way of understanding what had happened.

The Red Tent is a historical novel that takes us on a journey through time, from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt, and is recounted by Dinah, who takes us from her upbringing by the four wives of Jacob to her development as one of the most powerful women of her day.

In doing so, she reveals the ancient origins of many contemporary religious practices and sexual politics.

Author bio:

This beautiful and thought-provoking tale, which has become an international publishing sensation, portrays the narrative of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter, who has been lost to history because to the records of men. To you, my given name means absolutely nothing at all. There is nothing left of my memories. You and I are not to blame for this situation. There was a break in the chain that linked mother to daughter; the message was transmitted to males who had no means of understanding what was happening.

The brilliant narrative of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter, as told in the Book of Genesis has been lost to history due to the chronicles of mankind.

The author, Dinah, breaks a centuries-old male silence in order to preserve not only her own remarkable experiences, but also those of a long-ago era of womanhood that had gone largely undocumented by the original male scribes and later Biblical scholars.

In doing so, she reveals the ancient origins of many contemporary religious practices and sexual politics. A lovely and thought-provoking novel has emerged as a result of our collaboration.

Anita Diamant’s Iconic Novel “The Red Tent” Turns 20

It was twenty years ago today. When Anita Diamant’s novel “The Red Tent” was published, the landscape of historical fiction was completely changed. Danielle de Diamant based her work on the narrative of Dinah, who was Jacob’s sole daughter who was specifically mentioned by name in the Torah. Never miss out on the most interesting articles and events! This Week, GetJewishBoston.com. The author, in a recent interview with JewishBoston, shared her thoughts on why she chose to use a biblical narrative as the foundation of her first step into fiction, explaining that she was drawn to it for a variety of reasons.

  • “It was a great, fun, and intelligent approach to the study of the Torah,” says the author.
  • Instead, the narrative of Dinah drew my attention.
  • Her brothers are the ones who inform us about her destiny, and they have labeled what happened to her as a rape.
  • If it means getting her as his wife, Shechem is prepared to go to any length.
  • That became the untold narrative that I was able to concoct on my own.
  • She eventually ends up in Egypt, where her brother Joseph serves as viceroy and where her son is raised in a royal family.
  • Despite the fact that the novel was extremely captivating, it did not initially garner much attention.

This, together with the backing of independent booksellers, helped the book acquire traction and eventually land on The New York Times Best Sellers list in 2009.

It has been brought to my attention that women who attended Orthodoxeshivas were not permitted to read the narrative of Dinah,” she added.

“I received messages from these young ladies informing me that the administration at their respective high schools wished to prohibit the book,” she explained.

Anita Diamant is an actress and model (Photo: Gretje Fergeson) Since then, Diamant has written four novels and a collection of essays, among other works.

“When I was getting married, I asked my rabbi what I should study, and the books he recommended were woefully insufficient,” she explained.

“After having my own daughter, I wrote’The New Jewish Baby Book: Names, Ceremonies, and Customs: A Guide for Today’s Families.” Diamant’s most recent work is the third edition of her debut book, “The New Jewish Wedding,” which was published in 2008.

Inadvertently, it inferred that the former was more essential or authentic, and I made a point of avoiding doing the same thing in the current version.

“It’s called Brit Ahuvim, or Lovers’ Covenant, and it’s a halachically or legally defensible rite that focuses on partnership law rather than property law,” Diamant added.

“I desire amikveh that encourages Jews of all denominations and backgrounds to pray from the heart,” she stated in part: ” As a result, I desire amikveh that is kosher in every dimension, that adheres to all halachic standards in terms of design, space, the collection of natural water, and ongoing upkeep.” Shortly after the article gained traction, a board of directors was formed, and parlor meetings were scheduled in order to bring Diamant’s idea of a communitymikveha into reality.

  1. ‘The Boston community made a significant step forward, and women rallied behind the concept of utilizing amikvehnot only for traditional reasons,’ she explained.
  2. Diamant is looking forward to the publishing of an updated version of “Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead, and Mourn as a Jew,” which will be released in the coming weeks.
  3. She became acquainted with Shakespeare in a fresh perspective as a result of a programme called ” Shakespeare Work Out for Adults,” which was offered under the auspices of the Boston-basedActors Shakespeare Project.
  4. A admirable objective, and one that should come naturally to a lady who, almost single-handedly, altered the way people today view the Bible in our modern age.
  5. This Week, GetJewishBoston.com.

It is the author’s complete responsibility for the opinions, facts, and any media content published, and JewishBoston accepts no responsibility for them. Do you want to contribute your thoughts to the discussion? Create a new post and publish it here. MORE

The Red Tent

Her name is Dinah, and she is a young woman. It is only through a brief and violent diversion inside the more recognized chapters of the book of Genesis that we learn of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons that we get a glimpse of her life in the Bible. This tale, told in Dinah’s viewpoint, portrays the customs and turmoils of ancient women – the world of the red tent — in a compelling and original way. In this narrative, Dinah’s life is centered on her four mother-in-laws, who are all spouses of Jacob.

Because they care about her, their influence helps her go through a hard-working childhood, a summons to midwifery school, a horrific tragedy and, finally, happiness in a new home in a faraway nation, among other things.

The author, on the other hand, I would hazard to say, used a great deal of artistic license in her representations of biblical prophets from the Old Testament.

They are portrayed as being low, weak, and carnal in this novel.

The rating is excellent.

There is a great deal of it.

The male anatomy, bestiality, parental/spousal abuse, masturbation, and the depiction of a rape scenario are all mentioned in passing.

As a result, I shall emphasize.

I will not allow my children or sisters to come into contact with this book.

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