First published 2000
Dinah sits in the red tent, the sacred space where women gather during childbirth, monthly cycles, and sickness. Here she listens as her four mothers tell their stories. Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah are Jacob's wives, but their voices have been silenced in the official histories. Through Dinah's eyes, we see Jacob's courtship, the daily lives of women in ancient tribes, and the world of caravans and midwives. Dinah learns the religious and sexual practices of her people. She witnesses her half-brother Joseph's journey to Egypt. Her own story takes her to the city of Shechem and through years in Canaan. The red tent becomes her sanctuary, a place where women's wisdom passes from generation to generation. Diamant gives voice to the daughter mentioned only briefly in Genesis, filling the gaps left by biblical accounts. This is the story the scriptures never told.
Genres: historical-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, silenced-voices
Setting: Red Tent, Canaan, Egypt, Shechem
Period: Ancient
12 pages · Audio Cassette · Macmillan Audio