- Paperback: 672 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (26 Jan 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141023643
- ISBN-13: 978-0141023649
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11.2 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (233 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 266,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"The Secret History succeeds magnificently. . . . A remarkably powerful novel [and] a ferociously well-paced entertainment. . . . Forceful, cerebral, and impeccably controlled." "--The New York Times"
"An accomplished psychological thriller. . . . Absolutely chilling. . . . Tartt has a stunning command of the lyrical." --"The Village Voice
""Beautifully written, suspenseful from start to finish." --"Vogue
""A haunting, compelling, and brilliant piece of fiction. . . . Packed with literary allusion and told with a sophistication and texture that owes much more to the nineteenth century than to the twentieth." --"The Times" (London)
"Her writing bewitches us. . . . The Secret History is a wonderfully beguiling book, a journey backward to the fierce and heady friendships of our school days, when all of us believed in our power to conjure up divinity and to be forgiven any sin." --"The Philadephia Inquirer
""Enthralling. . . . A remarkably powerful novel. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
"An accomplished psychological thriller. . . . Absolutely chilling. . . . Tartt has a stunning command of the lyrical." --"The Village Voice
""Beautifully written, suspenseful from start to finish." --"Vogue
""A haunting, compelling, and brilliant piece of fiction. . . . Packed with literary allusion and told with a sophistication and texture that owes much more to the nineteenth century than to the twentieth." --"The Times" (London)
"Her writing bewitches us. . . . The Secret History is a wonderfully beguiling book, a journey backward to the fierce and heady friendships of our school days, when all of us believed in our power to conjure up divinity and to be forgiven any sin." --"The Philadephia Inquirer
""Enthralling. . . . A remarkably powerful novel. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Product Description
A misfit at an exclusive New England college, Richard finds kindred spirits in the five eccentric students of his ancient Greek class. But his new friends have a horrific secret. When blackmail and violence threaten to blow their privileged lives apart, they drag Richard into the nightmare that engulfs them. And soon they enter a terrifying heart of darkness from which they may never return.
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First Sentence
Does such a thing as 'the fatal flaw,' that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature? I used to think it didn't. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Does such a thing as 'the fatal flaw,' that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature? I used to think it didn't. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
68 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found myself trying to sell the story of The Secret History to a friend of mine in an effort to get him to read it. It went something like this.
ME: Its reeeeeeeally good. Its about this close knit group of college kids who do something really shocking and then do something more shocking to cover the first thing up!
FRIEND: And......?
ME: Um....... that's about it really.
I resorted to reading the cover notes to him and they weren't much better. Y'see, there are only a few shocking moments within the book but they are essential building blocks for later parts of the novel. To tell you, nay even hint as to what the shocking moments are would ruin vast swathes of this novel for you, and shame shame shame shame on other reviewers on these pages for doing so. SHAME!
This novel is beautiful and claustrophobic. Donna Tartt's writing style elegantly and effortlessly guides you through this bizarre world of academia. Her characters are fully rounded and complete and, as you expect from any good novel, you find yourself totally believing in them.
Underneath the subtle cover, bland title and nondescript blurb on the back is a doozer of a story. I recommend this title to anyone.
ME: Its reeeeeeeally good. Its about this close knit group of college kids who do something really shocking and then do something more shocking to cover the first thing up!
FRIEND: And......?
ME: Um....... that's about it really.
I resorted to reading the cover notes to him and they weren't much better. Y'see, there are only a few shocking moments within the book but they are essential building blocks for later parts of the novel. To tell you, nay even hint as to what the shocking moments are would ruin vast swathes of this novel for you, and shame shame shame shame on other reviewers on these pages for doing so. SHAME!
This novel is beautiful and claustrophobic. Donna Tartt's writing style elegantly and effortlessly guides you through this bizarre world of academia. Her characters are fully rounded and complete and, as you expect from any good novel, you find yourself totally believing in them.
Underneath the subtle cover, bland title and nondescript blurb on the back is a doozer of a story. I recommend this title to anyone.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My friend had been recommending this book to me for ages but I thought it sounded boring. I finally decided to give it a go to see what all the fuss was about and I'm so glad I did. I really can't recommend this book highly enough. I rarely say this, but I couldn't put it down - I just found myself itching to pick it back up again whenever I was doing anything else!
I have to admit, it does take longer than most books to really get into - maybe because this is such a long novel? - but when you do get like properly stuck in you'll be so glad you didn't throw it to the side after reading the first few pages.
Read it.
I have to admit, it does take longer than most books to really get into - maybe because this is such a long novel? - but when you do get like properly stuck in you'll be so glad you didn't throw it to the side after reading the first few pages.
Read it.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Recently I have had trouble finishing books. However, Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History' was absolutely no trouble at all. In fact for all its length I finished it within a week, reading late into the night and then getting so scared by Tartt's menacing and ultimately disturbing story that I had to turn on the TV.
The charcaterization is probably the strongest feature of an incredibly strong work of fiction. Each member of the ensemble cast is magically alive, in spite of, and in fact, because of their eccentricites and Richard's constant analysis of them. Even Francis, who we learn comparatively little about, is an entirely rounded character; through their constant smoking and drinking they become familiar. Even though we don't know what the next twist will be, we know what they will be doing when it unfolds; speaking ancient Greek, alluding to the Classics, smoking and drinking.
Tartt has been accused of uninnovative linguistics, I would refure that criticism. Her use of simple prose is the antithesis to the pretentsion that would have otherwise arisen from the constant allusions to the classics. Similarly, her prose gives the reader the sense that it is indeed Richard telling us this story, he is not merely a narrative vehicle, he is a character - as fully formed as the rest of them -who is recounting something that he can't stop thinking about; the only story he can now tell.
The book is funny too, I laughed out loud often whilst reading it, the humour is often dark but similarly it is often wonderfully famililar; a humourous observation of one the characters that is so accurate to a real-life counterpart.
The book is a beautiful confluence of realism and myth, accentuated by the contrast of Julian's students to the trivialities of everyday life that Tartt takes the time to include; Parents aren't ignored, the social scene surrounding the clique isn't overlooked and the fact that Richard just wants to fit in we are reminded of.
I thouroughly enjoyed 'The Secret History' and, as other reviewers have said, I am still thinking about each character a week after finishing it, wishing I'd at least met them all. It is long, but surely, that makes it all the more satisfying when you finish it and all the characters become complete in your head. Tartt tells us of the plot's climax at the beginning, the mystery of the novel is in the completion of her characterization, which is flawless.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unholy Pranks
Donna Tartt: The Secret History
`We don't like to admit it,' said Julian, `but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates controlled people such as ourselves more... Read more
`We don't like to admit it,' said Julian, `but the idea of losing control is one that fascinates controlled people such as ourselves more... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Mr. D. James
I only Wish Tartt would write another novel!
Donna Tartt's writing is magical - atmospheric, well-paced, thought-provoking and entertaining. I love this book and have re-read it several times. Read more
Published 19 days ago by GMcK
A modern classic
I tend not to be an admirer of modern fiction.I believe that modern western culture is largely decadent and degenerate and that it's author's writings reflect this. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Dausubel
Astounding
Nothing I can say can do justice to how incredible this book was and how much sheer joy I felt every time I had a spare moment to pick it up again! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anna Clare
The Perfect Academic Experience Novel
Frankly while I can see why people may dislike this book, I still can't help but give the long eye to those who do. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Acacia
Amazing
I can't recommend this book enough, I was totally blown away by the brilliance of the plot, and characterisation. One of the best books ever. You must read it!
Published 2 months ago by JMD
Not what its cracked up to be
This book is a must read for anyone, though I question why. Its a mix of Dead Poet's Society and Lord of the Flies. Without the exceptional writing and amazing plot. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Josey Wales
Impressive, but not flawless
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend whose opinion I trust. I struggled to get into it at first; the beginning 100 or so pages did little to draw me in. Read more
Published 4 months ago by DP
Enjoyed parts of it but hard to finish
I would usually race through books that engage me but this one took me over a week to read. Parts of it are very well written and I was enjoying it to start with but found that as... Read more
Published 4 months ago by HappyMama
...jelly and bloat, the muddy pit...
When Richard Papen is accepted in the tiny Classics department at Hampden College it takes some time before he begins to feel at ease. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Eileen Shaw
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