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Donna Tartt

The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Paperback, 1993) Paperback – 1 Jan. 1756

by Donna Tartt (Author)

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Truly deserving of the accolade Modern Classic, Donna Tartt's cult bestseller The Secret History is a remarkable achievement - both compelling and elegant, dramatic and playful.Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and for ever.

Print length

503 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

1 Jan. 1756
Dimensions

2.87 x 10.69 x 17.37 cm
ISBN-10

0804111359
ISBN-13

978-0804111355
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From the Publisher

Penguin
Published 3rd August 2017
640 Pages
129 mm x 198mm x 27mm 438g

The Secret History

25th anniversary edition

Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality their lives are changed profoundly and for ever.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0140167773
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (1 Jan. 1756)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 503 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0804111359
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804111355
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 2.87 x 10.69 x 17.37 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 1,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 525 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- 1,000 in Contemporary Fiction (Books)
- 1,177 in Mysteries (Books)

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7,464 ratings

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Customer reviews

5 star		64%
4 star		21%
3 star		10%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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Mr. M. Walsh

A Solid Three

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 October 2018

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Here's my review: the epilogue felt earnt. This was because the book felt so very bloody long.

It's not a bad book - but it's pretty anemic fare when you look closely. You'd think that ancient Greek would provide a charming and interesting motif. You'd be wrong. Like most of the book, it's thin set dressing for a medium-interesting melodrama that doesn't really go anywhere.

It's nicely written, but not so much as to ever make you stop and marvel.

The characters are strangely thin. The plot seems poised to set them up as being profound, but then fumbles it. I did wonder if this was a thematic point, but I don't really think so, on reflection. The characterisation is also somewhat....bloodless. Again, I don't really this was deliberate *enough*. Meaning: I think it was deliberate, but serves no overarching purpose, like you'd hope.

It's fine. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.

34 people found this helpful

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Rebekah B

A charming and shocking masterpiece filled with drama, twists, and bygone splendor

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2018

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I read this book on a recommendation, and have to admit that after reading a few pages I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I do not generally like books that are overly descriptive and feature more 'pretentious' prose, in fact I detest classical literature, yet the description and classical language, is what gives The Secret History it's charm.

This book was published in 1992, but harks back to a time more reminiscent of the early 1900's in style. The language used by some of the characters, namely Bunny, is reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. The characters are proper, intelligent, well-spoken,well-dressed, apparently wealthy young people, yet their lives are fueled by drink, drugs, and cigarettes. The drug abuse in this book is merely an undertone of the main story and therefore not as striking, especially considering the characters go about their addictions as though they are of no importance at all. This however, creates an air of mystery - building a world that few of us could ever know. A secret world of intoxication and prose. Of fine restaurants and best suits.

***spoilers***

The story is better described as a 'whydunnit' - opening with the death of a main character, with Book 1 of the story describing the events leading to the death, and Book 2 describing the events after the death. Our narrator, Richard, arrives at the fictional Hampden College with the intention of continuing his studies in Greek, and there has his first encounter with enigmatic tutor Julian, who eventually permits him to study in his small selective class of only six students. Previously fascinated with these students, Richard soon finds himself drawn into their world of bygone-time splendor. Richard struggles to open himself up to the group, especially as they are all of discernible wealth, and he has entered the school on Financial Aid to the horror of his Californian parents, but soon finds that they are keeping a far bigger secret from him.

The relationships between the main characters throughout the book are extremely interesting. At times it seems like everyone is sleeping with everyone, everyone hates everyone, everyone loves everyone. These friends are as family members, and move only together. As events unfold and some characters begin to lose themselves to either love, alcohol, murderous intentions, or drugs, the plot moves fantastically, with barely a dull paragraph. As previously mentioned, the use of such ornate and graceful language builds both atmosphere and suspense. It was a pleasure to read and I have even noticed Donna Tartt's use of language sneaking into my day to day writing and speech.

This book is a dark and classical masterpiece, the plot points of which you will never expect until they happen. I look forward to reading more of Tartt's work.

39 people found this helpful

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Ladyg

Rich in detail and addictive

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2018

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I just love Donna Tartt her writing is so rich in detail and genuinely beautiful! This book is engrossing and sinister the characters are microscopocally examined and they are immoral, tragic and deep. Donna writes in a classical manner and she weaves an intricate tapestry that will quite frankly leave you feeling desolate once you finish it! What can I read next that will compare to such quality storytelling 😯

21 people found this helpful

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Julie

A very unusual book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2019

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Wow. This is a heck of a book. Unlike any other I’ve ever read. It’s quite heavy going but I felt it was ultimately worth it although I felt it ran out of steam at the end (hence 4 stars not 5). I suppose it’s ultimately about peer pressure, about the masks we wear when young and about trying to impress. Mainly (simply put) it’s about an intellectual group of university students who feel that the normal rules of society don’t apply to them with horrendous consequences. Written from the point of view of Richard who is desperate to be included into their inner sanctum and has no idea about the darkness at its core. The book stayed with me for quite a while afterwards.

9 people found this helpful

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Charlotte

Protracted, dull and pretentious

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2020

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I hated this book. I read to the end as I wanted to find out what the outcome was, and all the good reviews of it had me hoping against hope that it could turn around.
It doesn't. This book is extremely dull; very little actually happens, the characters are caricatures of either American college kids or Classics scholars, and the whole story could have been wrapped-up in about a third of the time it takes to read it.

8 people found this helpful

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Londongirl

Disappointing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2018

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This book was far too long. I couldn’t relate to the characters and it just lacks something. I wouldn’t describe it as a thriller. I almost gave up but did finish it begrudgingly. I kept hoping there’d be a big twist but *spoiler alert* there wasn’t. I had read The Little Friend and, although also very long winded, really enjoyed it. Oh well. Don’t think I’ll be reading another Donna Tartt book anytime soon. The reason I still have three stars is she is a good writer in so many ways. The ways she describes even the mundane is amazing. Just a shame she describes the mundane so often 😫

9 people found this helpful

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Sue Nicholls

Imaginative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2018

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I don’t know how a person thinks up a plot such as this. Clearly someone educated in the Classics. It has all the elements of a Greek tragedy in a modern setting.
I enjoyed it much more than The Goldfinch. It kept to a single thread, and the descriptions, although there were more of them than modern convention suggests, we’re evocative and to me, added to the story.

15 people found this helpful

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The Secret History

25th anniversary edition

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