This:
Review: Donna Tartt - The Secret History
'The Secret
History' tells the tale of a group of Ancient Greek students at an American
college. One of their number, Bunny, is murdered. Whilst the story is told in
linear fashion, we know the fact of Bunny's death in the first sentence. This
is to reflect classical Greek tragedy, where the tragic hero's fate is sealed
by the gods before the play even begins. As Oedipus could not avoid the path
laid out before his birth, neither can Bunny. We know he has been killed, all
that's left to discover is why. And that's why I love this book.
More than that
though, 'The Secret History' explores classic themes of class consciousness and
of the outsider trying to fit in by pretending to be something he is not. The
book is told first person by Richard Papen. Our hero is from a poor background,
whereas the group into which he insinuates himself are all from affluent
families. Richard invents a wealthier past in order to ingratiate himself and
obtain admittance to the course he most wants to study.
A great book. Avoid
her second book, 'The Little Friend', like the plague.
Get it done.
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