The Secret History

The Secret History
source
Author	Donna Tartt
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Campus novel, Mystery fiction, Psychological thriller
Publisher	Alfred A. Knopf
Release date	September 1992
Pages	559
Isbn	0-679-41032-5

The Secret History is a 1992 debut novel by American author Donna Tartt. Set primarily at a fictional elite college in Vermont, the narrative follows a group of classics students who become dangerously obsessed with Ancient Greek philosophy and rituals. The story, framed as a retrospective confession by narrator Richard Papen, explores themes of morality, aestheticism, and the corruption of innocence, culminating in a murder among friends. Published by Alfred A.Knopf, the novel became a major bestseller and a defining work of the early 1990s literary scene.

Plot summary

The story is recounted by Richard Papen, a transfer student from California who gains entry into an exclusive Ancient Greek class at Hampden College under the tutelage of the charismatic professor Julian Morrow. He becomes enamored with his five classmates: the wealthy and enigmatic twins Charles Macaulay and Camilla Macaulay, the aristocratic Francis Abernathy, the brilliant but aloof Henry Winter, and the boorish Edmund "Bunny" Corcoran. Immersed in a world of Dionysian Mysteries and transcendental experiences, the group, led by Henry Winter, attempts a real Dionysian ritual in the woods, which accidentally results in the death of a local farmer. When Edmund "Bunny" Corcoran discovers their secret and begins to blackmail them, the other five conspire to murder him during a trip to the Catamount Mountains. The remainder of the narrative details the psychological unraveling of the group, their mutual suspicions, and the tragic consequences that befall Charles Macaulay, Camilla Macaulay, and Francis Abernathy, while Henry Winter ultimately takes his own life.

Background and publication

Donna Tartt began writing the novel while studying at Bennington College, an experience that heavily influenced the setting and atmosphere of Hampden College. She was part of a literary circle at Bennington College that included fellow writers Bret Easton Ellis and Jill Eisenstadt. Bret Easton Ellis helped bring the manuscript to the attention of his editor, Gary Fisketjon at Alfred A. Knopf, who secured a substantial advance. The novel was published in September 1992 with significant support from the publisher's marketing campaign, which emphasized its intellectual allure and the author's enigmatic persona. Its success was bolstered by critical praise from publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post, propelling it onto bestseller lists for many weeks.

Themes and analysis

Central themes include the perils of aestheticism and the pursuit of beauty at the expense of morality, a concept explored through the group's worship of Ancient Greek ideals and their detachment from contemporary American society. The novel examines the Faustian bargain inherent in seeking transcendent, Dionysian experiences, which leads to violence and guilt. The insular, almost cult-like dynamic of the classics students, overseen by Julian Morrow, critiques the dangers of elitist education and the corruption of Platonic ideals. Furthermore, the narrative delves into the psychology of crime, the burden of shared secrets as depicted in works like Crime and Punishment, and the unreliability of memory, as Richard Papen reconstructs events from a flawed, nostalgic perspective.

Literary significance and reception

Upon its release, the novel was hailed as a major literary event, with critic Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times praising its intellectual suspense and erudition. It revitalized the campus novel genre for a new generation, drawing comparisons to works like Brideshead Revisited and The Rules of Attraction. While some reviewers, such as those from The London Review of Books, found its prose overly ornate, its commercial and popular success was undeniable. It won the WH Smith Literary Award and has since sold millions of copies worldwide, maintaining a strong cult following. The book cemented Donna Tartt's reputation and influenced subsequent literary trends, including the rise of the "dark academia" aesthetic in literature and online culture.

Adaptations

Despite persistent interest, a feature film adaptation has remained in various stages of development for decades. In the 1990s, director Alan J. Pakula was attached to a project with potential involvement from actors like Gwyneth Paltrow and Johnny Depp, but it was never realized. More recently, Donna Tartt has been reportedly reluctant to sell the film rights. In 2022, it was announced that BBC and A24 were developing a television miniseries adaptation, with Mona Fastvold attached to direct and write. The novel has also inspired numerous theatrical readings and is frequently referenced in other media, including the television series Riverdale and the podcast Once Upon a Time... at Bennington College.

Category:1992 American novels Category:American campus novels Category:Alfred A. Knopf books