Jan 11, 2008 id seen all the press that the book and its enigmatic author received and knew that this was the one for me. Donna tartts secret history is the book i always recommed. Donna tartt, winner of the 2014 pulitzer prize for her most recent novel, the goldfinch, established herself as a major talent with the secret history, which has become a contemporary classic. The secret history is the first novel by donna tartt, published by alfred a. Less of a whodunnit and more of a whydunnit, donna tartts the secret history is an incredibly detail orientated and well written novel that trails richard papen and his small, cultlike circle of classmates through the exploration of the classics, attraction, friendship and admiration, addiction, money, and murder.
She was included in time magazines 100 most influential people list, compiled in 2014. Jan 09, 2014 donna tartt shot to fame with her first novel, the secret history. Why are literary critics dismayed by donna tartts the. The secret history by bclarkgreene see profile 112217. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric. She won the wh smith literary award for the little friend in 2003. The first novel by donna tartt, author of the national bestseller the goldfinch, the secret history is a contemporary classic.
Set in new england, it tells the story of a closely knit group of six classics students at hampden college, a small, elite vermont college based upon bennington college, where tartt was a student between 1982 and 1986 the secret history is an inverted detective story narrated by one of the. Welcome to the first vox book club discussion for may. It was also recommended by people who know my taste as well as those who dont, seemingly by the world of book lovers itself, by some of my most literary and wellread friends, by my mother. The secret history by donna tartt is an intricate glimpse into the lives of six students at hampden college in vermont and the impressions of one of those students who arrives midway through the relationships of the others. 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. The secret history goodreads meet your next favorite book. Richard papen arrived at hampden college in new england and was quickly seduced by an elite group of five students, all greek scholars, all worldly, selfassured, and, at first glance, all highly unapproachable. The secret history by donna tartt december 31, 2018 march 28, 2019 worldssmallestbookclub leave a comment 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. History by donna tartt is like drinking the scotch the characters drink in the book. She won the wh smith literary award for the little.
Donna tartt shot to fame with her first novel, the secret history. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. What other book might you compare the secret history to and why. Tartt was the 2003 winner of the wh smith literary award for the little friend. Tartt won the wh smith literary award for the little friend in 2003 and the pulitzer prize for fiction for the goldfinch in 2014. 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. Donna tartt s next book the little friend has some similarities, but it is also very different in other ways. 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. My favorite bookstore at the time was a satellite of berkeleys famous codys, located in the opera plaza on the corner of van ness and mcallister in san francisco. Oct 18, 20 donna tartt discusses the secret history with john mullan at the guardian book club on 19 november, 7pm, the royal geographical society, 1 kensington gore, london sw7.
See more ideas about donna tartt, the secret history and goldfinch. Donna tartt is an american writer who received critical acclaim for her first two novels, the secret history and the little friend, which have been translated into thirty languages. Donna tartt is the bestselling author of the goldfinch, the little friend, and the secret history. Donna tartt born december 23, 1963 is an american writer, the author of the novels the secret history 1992, the little friend 2002, and the goldfinch 20. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the secret history. The secret history donna tartt, 1992 knopf doubleday 576 pp. Even though the movie was almost universally panned by critics, i loved it, which made me want to read more of donna tartts work.
Also, our 2015 reading challenge had a pulitzer prize category, so this book took care of that. Author bio birthdecember 23, 1963 wheregreenwood, mississippi, usa educationb. The secret history by donna tartt reading guidebook club. Mar 12, 2020 the secret history by donna tartt was the beginning of my obsession with school stories. Oct 04, 20 the secret history by donna tartt the author will be in conversation with john mullan about her muchloved debut novel on 19 november fri 4 oct 20 06. Reading this book for the third time just convinced me that it is still my favorite donna tartt novel. The second novel by donna tartt, bestselling author of the goldfinch winner of the 2014 pulitzer prize, the little friend is a grandly ambitious and utterly riveting novel of childhood, innocence, and evil. She discusses the murder mystery about a group of classics students at a new england college with james naughtie. The secret history is the first novel by american author, donna tartt. It was donna tartts the secret history, and i hated it.
It is more uneven than the secret history and, at times, it does seem over written but there are moments and characters that are truly unforgettable. Donna tartt discusses the secret history with john mullan at the guardian book club on 19 november, 7pm, the royal geographical society, 1 kensington gore, london sw7. It grips you from its opening line, and it doesnt let go until the very last page. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Buy a cheap copy of the secret history book by donna tartt. The general book club will next discuss the psychological thriller the secret history by pulitzer prize winner donna tartt. The secret history by donna tartt books the guardian. In this first conversation, were covering everything from the prologue up to the end of book i. 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. Donna tartt is an american writer and author of the novels the secret history 1992, the little friend 2002, and the goldfinch 20. I had a different perspective on the book as i read it for the second time for a book club. Ten reasons why we love donna tartts the secret history.
This month, were reading donna tartt s the secret history, a tale of deeply pretentious yet lovable college students, murder, and the mysteries of bacchus. This month, were reading donna tartt s the secret history, a tale of deeply pretentious yet lovable college students, murder, and the. I still dont think i can put my feelings into words, but i can honestly say this book was a cathartic experience for me, and the irony of the word catharsis being a greek rooted word is not lost on me, because if this book is anything its a modern. Truly deserving of the accolade modern classic, donna tartts cult bestseller the secret history is a remarkable achievement both compelling and elegant, dramatic and playful. Secret history by donna tartt, first edition abebooks. Im about to start rereading the little friend next which is her second novel and is my personal favorite although it didnt do as well critically. Eleven years in the making, 784 pages long, the book has reignited the cult of donna tartt, which began in 1992 with her sensational debut novel, the secret history. Bbc radio 4 bookclub, donna tartt the secret history.
See more ideas about donna tartt, the secret history and the secret. Donna tartts first novel, the secret history, is an odd confection. The goldfinch, donna tartt i got a copy of donna tartts the secret history as soon as it hit the bookstore. After the disappointment of death comes to pemberley, we figured wed head back to donna tartt whose the secret history we had liked so well.
Set in new england, it tells the story of a closely knit group of six classics students at hampden college, a small, elite vermont college based upon bennington college, where tartt was a student between 1982 and 1986. She discusses the murder mystery about a group of classics students at a new. Donna tartts the secret history is part psychological thriller, part college memoir, and part greek mythology. The author of the secret history, donna tartt, is best known for her book, the goldfinch, for which she won the pulitzer prize in 2014 and which was recently made into a movie. The story follows an elite group of college students studying greek at a small college in new england. To immerse myself in this book was like living in rarified air, so rich, so deep with history, so exclusive, so unlike my own life. The secret history truly deserving of the accolade a modern classic, donna tartts novel is a remarkable achievement, both compelling and elegant, dramatic and playful. At the age of nineteen, richard papen goes to hampden college in vermont, primarily to get away from his parents and his depressingly boring hometown of plano, ca. The vox book club pick for may is donna tartts the secret. This board will be dedicated to anything donna tartt related. The secret history by donna tartt book club discussion.
Donna tartt won the 2014 pulitzer prize for her most recent novel. The vox book club pick for may is donna tartts the secret history. The setting is alexandria, mississippi, where one mothers day a little boy named robin cleve dufresnes was found hanging from a tree in his parents yard. Apr, 2004 donna tartt won the 2014 pulitzer prize for her most recent novel. I recently finished the goldfinch and read secret history for the second time. It is so creepy and odd, and so much like a train wreck from which i couldnt look away. The goldfinch her novelsl the secret history and the little friend were also international bestsellers. The secret history 9780449911518 by tartt, donna and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The secret history book by donna tartt thriftbooks. Each of these novels involves suspense and intense character studies. Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite new england college discover a way of t. The secret history by donna tartt the author will be in conversation with john mullan about her muchloved debut novel on 19 november fri 4 oct 20 06. The secret history by donna tartt richard papen arrived at hampden college in new england and was quickly seduced by an elite group of five students, all greek scholars, all worldly, selfassured, and, at first glance, all highly unapproachable.
The first book by donna tartt who would go on to write the little friend and the goldfinch, the secret history follows a group of wealthy students at a liberalarts college in 1980s vermont, who study ancient greek under the tutelage of a classics professor named julian morrow, an enigmatic eccentric who begins his classes with lines like. Donna tartt discusses her cult debut novel the secret history, first published in 1992. Jun 11, 2014 eleven years in the making, 784 pages long, the book has reignited the cult of donna tartt, which began in 1992 with her sensational debut novel, the secret history. The secret history by donna tartt was the beginning of my obsession with school stories. See more ideas about donna tartt, the secret history and writers and poets. The brat pack meets the bacchae in this precious, waytoolong, and utterly unsuspenseful townandgown murder tale. She was born in greenwood, mississippi, and is a graduate of bennington college. A bunch of eversomandarin college kids in a small vermont school are the eager epigones of an aloof classics professor, and in their exclusivity and snobbishness and eagerness to please their teacher, they are moved to try to enact dionysian frenzies in the woods. Id seen all the press that the book and its enigmatic author received and knew that this was the one for me.
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