Henry, the charismatic leader of the group, is brilliant but manipulative, and his actions ultimately lead to the group’s downfall. The other members of the group are also fascinating in their own right. He becomes increasingly involved in their activities, even as he begins to suspect that something is not quite right. Richard, the narrator, is a curious and intelligent young man who is drawn to the glamorous lifestyle of his new friends. The characters in The Secret History are well-drawn and complex, each with their own distinct personalities, quirks, and motivations. As Richard becomes more immersed in the world of his new friends, he discovers that they are all hiding dark secrets and are involved in a dangerous and sinister plot.

He is accepted into an exclusive group of students who are studying under the enigmatic classics professor, Julian Morrow. The story is narrated by Richard Papen, a young man from a humble background who is fascinated by the idea of studying at Hampden College, an elite liberal arts school in Vermont. And that is just the beginning.Donna Tartt’s The Secret History (1992) is a gripping novel that explores the lives of a group of elite college students who become entangled in a web of secrets, deception, and murder.

As Richard is drawn into their inner circle, he learned a secret about an incident in the woods in the dead of night where an ancient ritual was brought to brutal life… and led to a brutal death. He is quickly reduced by an elite group of five students, Greek scholars, who are worldly, self-assured, and highly unapproachable, at least at first. The story follows Richard Paper who arrives in New England to study the Classics at Hampden College. The world she builds is so glamorous and exciting, she makes me want to move to the Vermont countryside and hide away in a library forever.” – Sarah P., CirculationĪ “why-done-it” mystery that starts with a murder and then catches you up to the motive. The psychological twists and turns of the novel are well-executed and her main character is acutely self-aware and provides an engaging analysis of what he is experiencing in retrospect.

This is a book that rewards a reread so you can pick up on all the foreshadowing and side comments that point you right to the truth before you even know it. Her descriptions of events and tight dialogue are wonderful, and her story is engaging and unlike anything I’ve ever read.

The secret story donna tartt