THE BOOK FAIR

      THE

SECRET

HISTORY

Author:       Donna Tartt

Published:  1992

Genre:         Fiction

Cover:         Paperback

Pages:         559

Review:

"The Secret History" centers on a click of arrogant students, majoring in Greek study, at Hampden College in Vermont.  Richard Papen narrates his story.

 

Richard grows up poor and largely friendless in Plano, California where his father runs a gas station and his mother pitches in with office work to help pay bills.  Richard attends the community college that his father considers a waste of time.

 

Determined not to end up like his parents, Richard applies to Hampden College.  Admitted on financial aid, Richard plans a degree in English Literature while continuing classes in Greek.  Informed there is only one Greek professor, Richard sets his sights on the class.  To gain admittance, Richard impresses the students with his Greek, who then become intrigued with him.  Richard is accepted into the click, the group’s friendship grows over the weeks as they study in class, study out of class, and party heavily with abundant supplies of alcohol.

Though Richard realizes he is not included in all things the group does, his feelings of belonging override the oddities he senses until, in his quest for acceptance, he discovers deceit, lies, and treachery and unwillingly becomes an accomplice to a tragedy.

 

Excellent story.

Author:        Donna Tartt

Published:   2002

Genre:          Fiction

Cover:          Paperback

Pages:          624

Review

Part mystery, part crime novel, the story takes place in Mississippi during the 1970’s and hosts a cast of lively, interesting characters.

 

Harriet and Allison Dufresnes grow up under the shadow of their murdered brother, Robin, killed a decade earlier.  The killer was never found.

Harriet, precocious and imaginative, decides she knows who killed her brother and intends to catch him.  Harriet, together with her school-aged friend, play dangerous games of cat and mouse with the local family of hoodlum brothers, and one brother in particular who Harriet insists is the murderer.

 

The novel opens as a mystery with beautifully written passages.   The story becomes unbelievable when the children venture into abject danger amid such evil characters.  The writing style is detailed and descriptive and the ending, proves powerful and unexpected.