City News

Donna Tartt’s novel The Secret History, told from college student Richard Papen’s point of view, follows a group of six classics majors, of which he is a part, and their eccentric college professor. Classics professor Julian Morrow teaches only the clique of six students, consisting of Richard, Henry, Francis, Edmund, Charles, and Camilla. Due to their self-imposed isolation from the rest of the school’s student body, the six become an extremely close-knit group, mysterious to all the onlookers. As the newcomer in the group, Richard notices irregular and often unexplainable behavior from the others, such as being gone at late hours of the night and having bloody clothing. Although the relationships between the students seem to be prosperous at first, it quickly becomes obvious that sinister things are lurking beneath the surface. When the tension begins to increase, it becomes inevitable that drastic actions must be made to protect the harmony of the group, deadly ones that lead to unthinkable and haunting consequences.

Centered around the effects of guilt and isolation, The Secret History is a perfect read for those who want to experience the dark side of the human psyche. Despite having six characters as the primary focus of the novel, which can often get confusing, each character is distinct in their personality and actions, creating an intricately woven web of relationships with each other, some healthy and some disturbing. The Secret History also explores social class, as many of the students, including Henry and Edmund, come from extremely affluent families, while others, like Richard, struggle to pay for everyday expenses. This juxtaposition between different socioeconomic statuses serves as a motive for actions carried out by characters and is commonly a cause for strained interactions within the group.

Admittedly, Tartt’s novel has somewhat of a slow start: Richard spends much of the exposition narrating his life leading up to his enrollment in Hampden College and mundane experiences with Julian and the rest of the group. Despite this, many of the little incidents and details mentioned in the beginning play a role in the rest of the story at large. Told in the style of an inverted detective story, Richard recollects the events as they happened a few years ago, and his romanticized view of those around him causes him to be an unreliable narrator, adding an extra layer of dimension to the plot.

Readers who enjoyed Dead Poets Society or The Song of Achilles will likewise find The Secret History a haunting and compelling novel; it has similar topics of classics, literature, and strong bonds formed between cliques. It should be noted that parts of The Secret History can be a difficult read at times for those who are unfamiliar with Greek and Latin literature and grammar, as the novel makes occasional references to certain aspects of both. However, this does not take away from the overall experience of reading the novel, as they play a minimal role in the plot of the book. A gripping story, The Secret History is a novel sure to be remembered.

Check out The Secret History from NBPL!