The Secret History (Vintage Contemporaries) is a contemporary literary classic by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt. First published on April 13, 2004, it has been recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time. This novel spans 576 pages and is an international bestseller that delves into the lives of a group of misfit students at an elite New England college. Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, these young minds embark on a quest for a transcendent understanding of life, which takes them beyond the mundane realities of their peers.

Their journey is both cerebral and perilous, leading them down a path that challenges traditional constructs of morality. Awarded by The Atlantic as one of the Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years, this novel is described as “an accomplished psychological thriller… absolutely chilling” (Village Voice). Tartt’s writing is praised for its forcefulness and impeccable control, making it a captivating read that keeps readers on edge from beginning to end.