Product Description

This work is part of the Continuum Contemporaries series giving readers accessible and informative introductions to 30 of the most popular, most acclaimed and most influential contemporary novels. It contains a biography of the novelist, a full-length study of the novel, a summary of how the novel was received upon publication, a summary of how the novel has performed since publication, and a wide range of suggestions for further reading.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #203475 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

About the Author
Tracy Hargreaves teaches English at Leeds University, UK.

Customer Reviews

Essential reading!
I've been a Donna Tartt fan for ages and this is by far the best account of her wonderful book 'The Secret History'! It explains so many things about Tartt's influences and makes some inspired comments about different aspects of the novel. I thought I knew the novel backwards but this book showed me so much that I hadn't realised was there. Also it doesn't take too long to read and it's not written in jargon like some criticism books are. It has a terrific 'further reading' list too (I'm gradually working through the stuff I didn't already know about!). This terrific book is a must for any Tartt fan: thank you Tracy Hargreaves!

very helpful indeed
I was really surprised and happy to find a reader's guide to my favourite book. I definitely think The Secret History demands deeper scholastic understanding, and I found Tracy Hargreaves' analysis really interesting. She offers insight into the importance of the Dionysian bacchanal, the core of the novel, which I didn't know anything about before. I have since read Euripides' 'Bacchae', which Hargreaves reccommends for a better understanding of Henry and co's frenzy. I think it is brilliant that The Secret History is beginning to be looked at as a modern classic. Well done Tracy Hargeaves and thank you for your insights.