Kristen will be hosting the next bookclub in early March 07- Look for an Evite to come!
The Secret History takes place at the fictional Hampden College, which like Bennington is a small liberal arts college in Vermont. Its story centers on a small group of overly refined and elite students of ancient Greek taught by an eccentric professor who accepts few students. When the narrator, Richard Papen, a penniless transfer student from suburban California, successfully hatches a scheme to join the group, he gradually becomes privy to the group's secret history: they had accidentally murdered a farmer in their successful attempt to recreate an ancient Greek bacchanal. However, Bunny Corcorran, the one member of the group who had not participated in the bacchanal, learns of the murder and begins to blackmail the others. As Bunny's sanity becomes questionable and he threatens to reveal their secret, Richard must choose whether to side with the group in their decision to murder Bunny in order to silence him.
Critical opinion of the novel has been mostly favorable. Some critics have faulted The Secret History for vapid characterization and artificial stylization, but most have praised the work as an outstanding achievement for a first novel. Variously interpreted as suspenseful mystery, an exploration of the nature of evil, and a comparison of classical and modern values and philosophy, The Secret History is a noteworthy debut from a talented contemporary author.
With the publication of The Little Friend in 2002, Tartt proves she is no one-hit wonder. Already critics have praised the novel for its prose style, sharp characterizations, and tense narrative.
(Article updated November 2002)
—John B. Padgett
Critical opinion of the novel has been mostly favorable. Some critics have faulted The Secret History for vapid characterization and artificial stylization, but most have praised the work as an outstanding achievement for a first novel. Variously interpreted as suspenseful mystery, an exploration of the nature of evil, and a comparison of classical and modern values and philosophy, The Secret History is a noteworthy debut from a talented contemporary author.
With the publication of The Little Friend in 2002, Tartt proves she is no one-hit wonder. Already critics have praised the novel for its prose style, sharp characterizations, and tense narrative.
(Article updated November 2002)
—John B. Padgett
