The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (2006)

[The Ming]

I thought this story was well written and I enjoyed the liberal use of Gothic conventions and references to other novels etc but like Charybdis I didn't find any of the characters sympathetic. Whilst it's a good take on the Gothic, it does leave the lover of the romantic gothic a bit disappointed. I really wanted Margaret Lea to be more of the Jane Eyre type of character. I would have felt less let-down if the publicity around the book had been a bit less focused on the Gothic.

I'm still looking for the modern take on Jane Eyre-and no, although I enjoyed reading Rebecca-that's not i, IMNSHO. I am beginning to think I shall have to write it myself. I want to do for Charlotte Bronte what Helen Fielding did for Jane Austen.