October Bookmonger Society Pick: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
An elite college. A brilliant professor. Six students. And a secret that ends in murder.
Event Description
October was made for The Secret History.
Donna Tartt’s cult classic has become the blueprint for dark academia: an elite New England college, ancient Greek, beautiful old buildings, questionable decisions and a group of clever, eccentric students who become dangerously obsessed with a world of their own making.
And the best part? This isn’t really a whodunnit. Tartt tells you what happened almost immediately. The question is how they got there, and what happens when a group of people begin to believe that the normal rules no longer apply to them.
Atmospheric, intelligent, darkly funny and endlessly discussable, The Secret History feels exactly right for our October Bookmonger Society.
Join us for one of two evenings of great discussion, wine, charcuterie and community. Tweed entirely optional, although we certainly wouldn't object.
🗓️ Tuesday, 27 October | 7:30 p.m.
🗓️ Wednesday, 28 October | 7:30 p.m.
About the Book
When Richard Papen arrives at an elite college in Vermont, he becomes fascinated by a small, intensely private group of classics students studying under the charismatic Professor Julian Morrow.
Drawn into their rarefied world of Greek philosophy, privilege, beauty and intellectual obsession, Richard quickly discovers that beneath its cultivated surface lies something far darker.
Under Julian’s influence, the group has begun to see themselves as separate from the ordinary rules of society. But when their pursuit of the extraordinary crosses the boundaries of morality, the consequences will bind them together forever.
Part campus novel, part psychological thriller and part modern tragedy, The Secret History is a story of friendship, obsession, guilt and the seductive danger of believing yourself above the rules.
About Donna Tartt
Donna Tartt is an American novelist and the author of The Secret History, The Little Friend and The Goldfinch.
Published in 1992, The Secret History was her debut novel and became an international bestseller, earning a devoted following that has only grown in the decades since. Its intoxicating combination of classical scholarship, privilege, obsession and murder has made it a modern cult classic and a defining influence on the dark academia genre.
Tartt went on to win the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Goldfinch.
Praise for The Secret History
“A huge, mesmerising, galloping read.” — Vanity Fair
“Compelling, elegant, dramatic and playful.” — The Guardian
“A haunting, compelling and brilliant piece of fiction.” — The Times
Ticket Options
🎟️ Paperback Admission — £25
Includes a paperback copy of The Secret History plus full event access.
🎧 Audiobook Admission — £25
Includes a Libro.fm credit for The Secret History plus full event access.
📚 Swap Ticket — £25
Already have a copy? Choose the swap option and pop in to select another paperback or audiobook of your choosing instead.
What's Included
- Your choice of paperback, audiobook, or swap book ticket
- A complimentary Bookmonger charcuterie board to share
- Book discussion hosted by The Bookmonger team
- Kahoot! trivia with prizes
- Wine, soft drinks and beer available to purchase on the night
Coming Alone?
Many of our Bookmonger Society members attend solo, and we love that. Our gatherings are friendly, relaxed and welcoming, and we'll help you settle in from the moment you arrive.
Refund Policy
Due to the intimate size of our event space, we plan for every member and every seat counts.
In the rare event that The Bookmonger cancels, refunds will be issued for the admission portion only. The retail value of the book will be deducted, and the book will still be yours to keep.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to future events. Thank you for your understanding; it helps us keep these evenings running for everyone. Given enough time, we can try to re-sell your ticket.
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