The Secret History by Donna Tartt Review

 

 

The Secret History

by Donna Tartt

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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 they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last – inexorably – into evil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Secret History is a novel I’d heard about for years. Some call it pretentious and an example of an author intent on impressing readers with their own knowledge sprinkled throughout the story in exhausting references while so many others christened it a modern classic, a must-read, a staple of those literary and Classics inclined souls who find themselves attracted to the world of the Dark Academia aesthetic. 

For years, I’ve wanted to read this. For years, I’ve had my own ideas of how I thought this novel would unfold, though based on only the vaguest of ideas of the actual plot. To say I had high expectations would only be the slightest of exaggerations. I knew before reading The Secret History that there was a chance I was spoiling it for myself by harboring and tending to these ideas I had of its greatness. Now that I’ve read it, I can say that it was simultaneously everything I thought it would be while also completely surprising me in many ways. In the broadest sense, in atmosphere and the general feel of the story and characters, it was as I’d expected but much, much better.

I am going to keep this review rather vague in respect to the plot and character details because I think The Secret History is a novel best experienced for yourself and with the least amount of knowledge of its course as possible. 

The Secret History is a masterfully written story. The prologue is certainly intriguing and grabs readers’ attention right away, but the story unfolds slowly, taking its time. Within pages of starting this book, I felt as though I’d entered somewhere I didn’t want to leave. It was wonderfully atmospheric, a story and prose so easy to sink into. We spend a great deal of time with these six characters—Richard, Henry, Francis, Bunny, Charles and Camilla—and though there’s nothing spectacularly different about the style of first person narration the story is told through, it feels especially intimate and familiar. The seclusion of the students from the rest of the college is a theme explored throughout the entirety of the novel and creates an atmosphere that extends to the reader. They occupy a world of their own, so completely absorbed in their study of Classics that it’s become the basis of their lifestyle. They have few friends outside of the group and have a willful ignorance toward the modern world around them. They’re pretentious and turn away from the real world in favor of the brilliance of their idealized version of Ancient Greece. It’s tight knit and isolated and the storytelling emphasizes that, focusing on the complexities and subtleties of the plot and characters through Richard’s thoughtful contemplations and observations. 

The characters are incredibly well written and nuanced. While seemingly regular rich and pretentious Classics majors who care little for others, there’s so much more going on within each of them and especially within their interactions as a group. Though we get to know them through Richard’s perception of them, the characterization builds with the tension as the story progresses and readers have to wonder if you truly know any of them at all. There are secrets aplenty and so much is kept in the dark throughout the novel, only coming to light when absolutely necessary. The characters were often disconcerting to read about but, again, compelling. Readers experience the story from Richard’s POV, but so much of what he learns is secondhand and it contributes to the overall lack of surety and the feeling that, as a reader, I was being deliberately misled or kept in the dark in certain respects. I would love to delve into the characters, their traits and exactly why I think they’re fantastically written but I don’t want to spoil any part of this book. 

 

The Secret History is terribly intriguing. I loved the premise from the start and the experience of reading this novel was captivating. The storytelling is so meticulous and unfolds brilliantly. There’s no rushing this story, it really does take its time, slow and detailed but utterly compelling. At around 560 pages, I could see this slower style of unraveling the story being dull to some, but I was enraptured. The magic of this novel is in the writing, the exploration of the characters and consequences. The writing is detailed and the story is unhurried but everything feels precise and deliberate, absolutely necessary for this story to have the impact it does. While I’m sure many went over my head, I enjoyed the references and incorporation of Classic Greek works and how the themes in The Secret History itself reflected some of the Classics the students ponder. 

The novel is separated into Books I and II, and for much of the first Book, I had the sense of being lulled by the ordinary events and quiet happenings as Richard slipped into the group’s life and they became accustomed to his presence as a new member. The hints of what was coming were dropped sparingly and the intrigue and tension that built up were incredible. Though, based on the prologue, I had ideas of where this novel went and how it would end, I was continually surprised by what happened. The plot progressed well, in a manner that kept me on my toes, wondering if, at any point, I had a full understanding of what had already happened and anxious to see what would come. In many ways, it was a strange read and completely unexpected. Readers are able to feel a sort of disconnect from the characters and events and recognize this strangeness but it’s written in such a way that the allure is obvious as well. Tartt strikes a fine balance between romanticizing elements of the story and characters while also delving into the realistic and destructive nature of their inclinations. 

I enjoyed this novel so much. I didn’t want to put the book down, however I tried to stretch out the reading of it a little bit because I wanted to savor the experience of reading it for the first time. I could easily see it not being to everyone’s taste but I loved it. It was complex, unique and just utterly engrossing. I highly recommend it.

5/5

Have you read The Secret History? Do you think it’s overrated or did it live up to the hype? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Thanks for reading, 

Madison