[(The Secret History)] [ By (author) Donna Tartt ] [July, 1995]

It’s the best

Donna Tartt's first novel, "The Secret History," is an ambitious and well-written work that functions as a psychological thriller, college satire and Greek tragedy. We learn on page one that the central characters have committed a murder, but the intrigue is finding out why. What happened to lead up to the murder of the supposed friend, Bunny Corcoran? What happened to the characters after the murder?The narrator, Richard Papen, moves from California and tries to recreate himself at a liberal arts college in Vermont. He eventually breaks into the tight circle of a group of elitist Greek scholars and their instructor, Julian Morrow. There is a good deal of character study and observation as Richard interacts with the group, both as a unit and individuals. There is Henry, the leader and self-styled intellectual. Francis is the frail hypochondriac and barely closeted homosexual. Fraternal twins, Charles and Camilla, are the fair-haired amongst the dark. Charles is prone to excessive drinking, while Camilla masks her emotions with a frosty exterior. Finally, there is Bunny, the obnoxious nouveau riche sponge who bleeds the others until they resort to murder.The murder of Bunny is only the center of the story. The spiraling descent of Richard, Henry, Francis, Charles and Camilla is what makes the story interesting.These are not people I would have liked in college, wearing suits all the time, and moving about in their exclusive, arrogant, and pseudo-intellectual manner, but Tartt does present them as humans with good qualities and flaws. There is a certain Sophoclean irony in the way their lives turn out, and how some of the peripheral characters, like Cloke Rayburn and Judy Poovey, actually succeed after college.The language is beautiful throughout, with excellent atmosphere in describing the college as the seasons change, and the small insights of the various cliques at the school. While one is following the plot of Richard and his group, there is also a sense that life is going on around them. Life is in the details, and this book comes alive as one reads and is drawn into "The Secret History."

Great condition, Arrived fast.

I have recently picked up this book for a 2nd reading. It was better than the first time I read it. The characters, the story, the setting, I just can't think of anything but good things about this book. I remember years ago, when I tried to read it the first time, I picked it up, put it down, two or three times. Then finally one day, it just clicked, and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. There are some books that get better with a second reading and this is one of them. I LOVE this book. Now that I have read it a second time, I will let some time pass and read it a third. I look forward to it. I read Ms. Tartt's second book and it too was good, although not as good as this one. I hope she is working on another book.

Extremely unlikeable characters. Could be interesting to a student of classical languages.

Book

This first book by Donna Tartt was a good read, but perhaps not as good as I anticipated. Great character development and interesting plot.

The product was as advertised, or even better condition. I’m very satisfied!