--- product_id: 76801612 title: "Secret History" price: "307 kr" currency: NOK in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.no/products/76801612-secret-history store_origin: NO region: Norway --- # Intellectual, classics-driven narrative Bestselling literary masterpiece Dark mystery & psychological thriller Secret History **Price:** 307 kr **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the dark secrets of intellect and obsession—don’t miss the cult classic that defined a generation! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Secret History - **How much does it cost?** 307 kr with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.no](https://www.desertcart.no/products/76801612-secret-history) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Edge-of-Your-Seat Suspense:** Experience a slow-burning, haunting narrative that grips you from page one to the last word. - • **A Modern Classic Bestseller:** Ranked #1,573 overall and top 50 in Crime, Mystery & Thriller genres—join the global conversation. - • **Immersive Intellectual Journey:** Dive deep into a world shaped by classical scholarship and moral complexity that challenges your worldview. - • **Complex Characters & Moral Dilemmas:** Explore the thin line between brilliance and darkness through unforgettable, flawed protagonists. - • **Perfectly Bound Collector’s Edition:** Good condition with proper binding—ideal for your curated bookshelf or gifting to fellow book lovers. ## Overview The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a critically acclaimed bestseller blending literary fiction with crime, mystery, and psychological thriller elements. Set in a New England college, it follows a group of classics students whose pursuit of transcendence leads to moral ambiguity and dark consequences. Praised for its compelling prose, complex characters, and haunting atmosphere, this book ranks in the top 50 of Crime, Mystery, and Thriller categories with over 53,000 reviews averaging 4.4 stars. ## Description THE BESTSELLER THAT DEFINED AN AGE 'Everything, somehow, fit together; some sly and benevolent Providence was revealing itself by degrees and I felt myself trembling on the brink of a fabulous discovery, as though any morning it was all going to come together---my future, my past, the whole of my life---and I was going to sit up in bed like a thunderbolt and say oh! oh! oh!' Under the influence of a charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at a New England college discover a way of thought and life a world away from their banal contemporaries. But their search for the transcendent leads them down a dangerous path, beyond human constructs of morality. 'Haunting, compelling and brilliant' The Times 'Irresistible and seductive' Guardian 'Enthralling... Forceful, cerebral and impeccably controlled' New York Times Review: So I began to read in the hopes that this novel would deal with things that I could resonate with and I wasn’t disappointed. This novel refers to the ways of the ... - When I first heard that this book is about students of the Classics, I myself being a student of English Literature, felt that I simply HAD to read it. So I began to read in the hopes that this novel would deal with things that I could resonate with and I wasn’t disappointed. This novel refers to the ways of the Greeks, the mythologies, religious beliefs, and histories. In doing so, the writing has an intellectual edge and I’m pleased to say I got what I wanted out of this book. But there’s so much going on in this book. There’s mystery, suspense, and quite a bit of thrill. Did I mention it gets pretty dark in places? After I was done reading this (I finished at the stroke of midnight) and I actually looked around a few times checking for ghosts in my dark room. The first few pages painted a picture similar to the one I had witnessed in the film “Dead Poet’s Society.” A movie starring the loveable Robin Williams who plays the role of a lecturer of poetry. I absolutely LOVED this film. But this book was quite different and has its own uniqueness. Here are a group of highly intellectual students cordoned off to spend a majority of their time taking classes from an erudite teacher. But underneath this seemingly normal facade, lurks disaster. What could possibly happen to this lot in order to plummet all of them into a dark abyss? For the sensitive reader out there, here’s something to be aware of: This novel touches upon twincest, drugs, and cold-blooded murder. I was surprised how the events in the novel made me respond on an emotional level. I felt for the characters, took pity on them and their state of helplessness. At times, I was gripped with fear for them while in other times, I was puzzled by the level of distance that the narrator Richard, seemed to have in the telling of the narrative.The subject matter of this novel really won me over. I have in the past, encountered groups of peers with an extreme passion for a subject. I have also witnessed the obsessiveness with which some scholarly and stoic individuals attempt to tackle the problems in their lives. The attempt to immerse oneself into the subject one has chosen to specialize in. This is exactly what the characters of The Secret History do. For instance, Henry and the twins, Charles and Camilla, really manage to live, breathe, and sleep Greek-The subject they are majoring in. It makes clear that the distinction between intellectuality and sheer barbarism is but a thin line. This novel provides us with a moral dilemma. It makes us question the correctness of some people’s actions/decisions. For instance, I was truly shocked at Julian’s and Henry’s level of eccentricity, their unconventional way of responding to situations they are faced with. I felt that this novel could have been much more if Tartt had given us more background for the narrator, Richard. In the end, I felt like I didn’t know this character any more than I did at the start of the novel. I also hoped there was more information on the time period in which “The Secret History” takes place. I’m aware that this novel was set around 25 years ago but I found it difficult to place it within a particular time frame. Although from what I was able to gather, it is probably set in the period just after the Vietnam War. What really appealed to me about this story was Tartt’s writing. Even though it is at times possible to predict what happens next in the plot, the process or manner in which her writing unravels this event is truly remarkable. This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. Tartt’s writing is absorbing and expects a level of involvement on part of the reader. With every turn of the page, this novel simply draws you in. Tartt's has this manner of dropping hints about upcoming events and you know it’s going to happen soon, but you can do nothing as a reader except read on to find out what unfolds. The characters are all well rounded and created with utmost care. Tartt’s decision to center the plot around seven main characters is an ambitious one, but she achieves this with flawlessness and ease. The manner in which Tartt chooses to leave some events to the reader’s imagination in the course of this novel is what struck me as utterly brilliant. She only hints at them, leaving the rest up to the reader. Tartt’s novel succeeds in its ability to absolutely dumbfound the reader, leave them speechless. The Secret History left me feeling only partially satiated. Nevertheless, I fell in love with it. This is the sort of book that must be read and re-read. But for now, I’m now looking forward to reading Tartt’s other works, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch. Review: A compelling, unforgettable read for fans of Academia - The Secret History is dark, immersive, and beautifully written. Donna Tartt’s prose pulls you into a world of privilege, obsession, and moral decay, where every character feels disturbingly real. The slow-burn tension makes the story even more haunting, and the atmosphere of secrecy never fades. It’s not just a mystery, it’s a deep psychological exploration of friendship, guilt, and the consequences of intellectual arrogance. ## Features - PENGUIN GROUP, A great option for a Book Lover - Condition : Good - Comes with Proper Binding ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,573 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #39 in Crime Fiction (Books) #40 in Mysteries (Books) #45 in Thrillers and Suspense | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 53,256 Reviews | ## Images ![Secret History - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YhQfeiynL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ So I began to read in the hopes that this novel would deal with things that I could resonate with and I wasn’t disappointed. This novel refers to the ways of the ... *by B***N on 14 November 2017* When I first heard that this book is about students of the Classics, I myself being a student of English Literature, felt that I simply HAD to read it. So I began to read in the hopes that this novel would deal with things that I could resonate with and I wasn’t disappointed. This novel refers to the ways of the Greeks, the mythologies, religious beliefs, and histories. In doing so, the writing has an intellectual edge and I’m pleased to say I got what I wanted out of this book. But there’s so much going on in this book. There’s mystery, suspense, and quite a bit of thrill. Did I mention it gets pretty dark in places? After I was done reading this (I finished at the stroke of midnight) and I actually looked around a few times checking for ghosts in my dark room. The first few pages painted a picture similar to the one I had witnessed in the film “Dead Poet’s Society.” A movie starring the loveable Robin Williams who plays the role of a lecturer of poetry. I absolutely LOVED this film. But this book was quite different and has its own uniqueness. Here are a group of highly intellectual students cordoned off to spend a majority of their time taking classes from an erudite teacher. But underneath this seemingly normal facade, lurks disaster. What could possibly happen to this lot in order to plummet all of them into a dark abyss? For the sensitive reader out there, here’s something to be aware of: This novel touches upon twincest, drugs, and cold-blooded murder. I was surprised how the events in the novel made me respond on an emotional level. I felt for the characters, took pity on them and their state of helplessness. At times, I was gripped with fear for them while in other times, I was puzzled by the level of distance that the narrator Richard, seemed to have in the telling of the narrative.The subject matter of this novel really won me over. I have in the past, encountered groups of peers with an extreme passion for a subject. I have also witnessed the obsessiveness with which some scholarly and stoic individuals attempt to tackle the problems in their lives. The attempt to immerse oneself into the subject one has chosen to specialize in. This is exactly what the characters of The Secret History do. For instance, Henry and the twins, Charles and Camilla, really manage to live, breathe, and sleep Greek-The subject they are majoring in. It makes clear that the distinction between intellectuality and sheer barbarism is but a thin line. This novel provides us with a moral dilemma. It makes us question the correctness of some people’s actions/decisions. For instance, I was truly shocked at Julian’s and Henry’s level of eccentricity, their unconventional way of responding to situations they are faced with. I felt that this novel could have been much more if Tartt had given us more background for the narrator, Richard. In the end, I felt like I didn’t know this character any more than I did at the start of the novel. I also hoped there was more information on the time period in which “The Secret History” takes place. I’m aware that this novel was set around 25 years ago but I found it difficult to place it within a particular time frame. Although from what I was able to gather, it is probably set in the period just after the Vietnam War. What really appealed to me about this story was Tartt’s writing. Even though it is at times possible to predict what happens next in the plot, the process or manner in which her writing unravels this event is truly remarkable. This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. Tartt’s writing is absorbing and expects a level of involvement on part of the reader. With every turn of the page, this novel simply draws you in. Tartt's has this manner of dropping hints about upcoming events and you know it’s going to happen soon, but you can do nothing as a reader except read on to find out what unfolds. The characters are all well rounded and created with utmost care. Tartt’s decision to center the plot around seven main characters is an ambitious one, but she achieves this with flawlessness and ease. The manner in which Tartt chooses to leave some events to the reader’s imagination in the course of this novel is what struck me as utterly brilliant. She only hints at them, leaving the rest up to the reader. Tartt’s novel succeeds in its ability to absolutely dumbfound the reader, leave them speechless. The Secret History left me feeling only partially satiated. Nevertheless, I fell in love with it. This is the sort of book that must be read and re-read. But for now, I’m now looking forward to reading Tartt’s other works, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A compelling, unforgettable read for fans of Academia *by S***A on 12 January 2026* The Secret History is dark, immersive, and beautifully written. Donna Tartt’s prose pulls you into a world of privilege, obsession, and moral decay, where every character feels disturbingly real. The slow-burn tension makes the story even more haunting, and the atmosphere of secrecy never fades. It’s not just a mystery, it’s a deep psychological exploration of friendship, guilt, and the consequences of intellectual arrogance. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dark, Brilliant, and Unforgettable – A Must-Read for Psychological Fiction Fans *by S***Z on 8 June 2025* The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a richly layered and gripping psychological novel that pulls you deep into the lives of a group of eccentric classics students at an elite college. I found the plot to be absorbing and unpredictable, driven by an unsettling sense of tension that builds slowly but steadily. The way Tartt blends philosophy, beauty, and darkness into a single narrative is masterful. The writing is elegant and atmospheric—every sentence feels intentional, and the pacing, while deliberate, suits the novel's introspective tone. The characters are brilliantly drawn, especially the narrator, Richard, who offers a hauntingly honest view of the group’s moral descent. Each personality is distinct, flawed, and deeply human, which makes the story all the more compelling. At over 600 pages, this is not a light read, but it’s one that stays with you. I’d highly recommend it to readers aged 15 and up who enjoy character-driven fiction with a dark, intellectual edge. The paperback edition (ISBN-10: 0804111359) is well-sized for longer reading sessions and makes a great addition to any bookshelf. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Secret History: From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Goldfinch - Fahrenheit 451 - The Handmaid's Tale --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.no/products/76801612-secret-history](https://www.desertcart.no/products/76801612-secret-history) --- *Product available on Desertcart Norway* *Store origin: NO* *Last updated: 2026-09-16*