The Secret History Summary
Description
Here you will find a The Secret History summary (Donna Tartt's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters The Secret History Summary Overview
In 1983, Richard Papen changes his education path from a self-contained college in Plano, California, to a picture-perfect Hampden College in Vermont. He faces initial resistance but eventually gets admitted into an exclusive ancient Greek program led by Professor Julian Morrow, with five other students - Henry, Bunny, Francis, and the twins, Charles and Camilla. Richard, who hails from a less wealthy background, hides his financial status from his affluent classmates. He feels estranged initially but manages to blend in after being invited to Francis's country house over the weekends. During winter vacation, Richard, instead of going home, stays back in Hampden, working for a psychology professor for sustenance while living in a cold, free-warehouse. Henry eventually finds Richard in a state of exhaustion and takes him to a hospital. After this incident, Richard discovers that Henry, Francis, and the twins had plans to flee the country, their escape hindered by insufficient funds. The group had participated in a bacchanal at Francis's country house, where they accidentally killed a farmer in what they believed to be a Dionysiac frenzy, an idea inspired by Julian's class. Bunny, despite being unaware of the murder, jokingly insinuates the group's involvement when he reads about the farmer's death. He later discovers the truth from Henry's journal while they were in Italy. Bunny's increasing demands and threats bring about his death when the group decides to push him off a cliff during his routine hike, with Richard unintentionally present at the scene. After Bunny's death, the group begins to fall apart, with Charles heavily drinking and Francis facing anxiety attacks. This crisis unveils hidden relationships and manipulations within the group leading to a tragic climax with Henry's suicide. The group eventually disbands, with Richard being the only one to graduate. Years later, Richard is still in love with Camilla and often reminisces about Henry.
prologue
Richard Papen reflects on the chaos that ensued following Bunny Corcoran's sudden vanishing. The pandemonium it spurred was beyond his and his friends' expectations. Despite this, their scheme ultimately proved successful. Looking back, Richard struggles to comprehend his involvement in the event. It's as if he's perpetually stuck at the peak of the mountain, the place Bunny least expected them. Although he may have had different narratives to share once, this has become the singular tale worthy of being told.
chapter 1
Richard, who grew up neglected in the Californian town of Plano, identifies his weakness for beauty as a significant flaw. After starting to study ancient Greek at a local college, he discovers a pamphlet for Hampden College in Vermont. Seduced by the beautiful imagery and exclusivity of the school, he successfully applies and transfers there, eager to continue his Greek studies. He soon learns that admittance to the school’s only Greek class, led by Professor Julian Morrow, is highly selective. Undeterred, Richard visits Julian’s office only to be told that the class is full. Richard finds employment with Dr. Roland, a psychology professor, while studying other subjects. He becomes intrigued by a group of five students, four boys, and a girl, who are the sole participants in Julian’s Greek class. Upon hearing three of them, Bunny and twins Charles and Camilla, arguing about a Greek translation in the library, Richard corrects them, impressing them and another group member, Henry. To fit in with the group, Richard lies to Dr. Roland about needing car repairs to get an advance on his paycheck and buys new clothes. He visits Julian again and after a manipulative conversation, Julian agrees to let him join the class, but only if he drops all his other classes. Richard agrees, drawn in by the other students. Richard's first lessons with Julian and the other students, which now include a boy named Francis, focus on the concept of the loss of self. Julian believes that trying to suppress our primitive selves is futile and that the more they are repressed, the more powerful they become. Julian also links beauty with terror, claiming both require total loss of control. After class, Richard finds an invite from Bunny to have lunch on the upcoming Saturday in his post office box.
chapter 2
Richard gets ready to have lunch with Bunny on a hot Saturday, even bumping into Judy Poovey, who has been making advances on him. Upon hearing about Richard's lunch plans, Judy shares a tale about a party encounter with Henry, Bunny and the twins, also offering Richard a jacket, as she is studying costume design. Richard accepts the offer and meets Bunny for lunch, taking a taxi into town. He receives a comment from Bunny about his new silk jacket being inappropriate for the season. During lunch, Bunny makes some homophobic comments about the waiter and orders an excessively large amount of food and drinks. When the bill comes, Bunny conveniently forgets his wallet. Richard is unable to cover the bill, leading Bunny to call Henry for help who ends up paying and driving them home. Once alone with Richard, Henry reveals that Bunny often avoids paying, but reminds Richard of Bunny's payment for their taxi ride. The following day, Richard is invited to dinner at the apartment of the twins along with Bunny, Henry, and Francis. Still suffering from the previous day's indulgence, Richard finds himself disinterested in the conversation, leaves early and sleeps until the next morning, making him late for class. After class, Richard tries to speak with Julian, but overhears a cryptic conversation between Julian and Henry. Throughout the following week, Richard experiences feelings of loneliness and depression. At a party, Camilla invites Richard to a country retreat with her and Francis. Richard accepts and joins Charles, Henry, and Bunny at Francis' family house. Richard reflects that this first weekend at the country house marked the beginning of his real bond with the group, as they spent many happy weekends there. Richard muses over his ignorance of certain events and the occasional exclusions from the group's activities. Richard recalls a specific day at the country house where Henry had to carry Camilla back to the house after she stepped on a shard of glass in the lake. Francis then drove Camilla to the hospital while Henry extracted the glass. Later that day, Richard expresses a wish for them all to live together at the country house, a sentiment echoed by Charles who suggests Francis could purchase it. Richard remembers Bunny's laughter while playing croquet with Henry, a sound that haunts him still.
chapter 3
As the academic term approaches its conclusion, Richard is uncertain about his plans for the winter break. While his friends Henry and Bunny are off to Italy, he is left to figure out his own arrangements. Despite receiving invitations from Francis and the twins, he cannot open up about his need to work during the break. Eventually, he decides to stay at Hampden, work for Dr. Roland, and reside in a student-friendly warehouse with a lenient owner. He moves into the warehouse without revealing his situation to his friends, only to discover a massive hole in his room's ceiling. Throughout the vacation, Richard communicates with his friends via letters, avoiding their inquiries about his living situation. His living conditions lead him to fall sick and suffer from depression. One fateful night, he falls in the snow and injures his forehead. Henry finds him at the warehouse and rushes him to the hospital, where he is diagnosed with pneumonia and chronic hypothermia. Richard spends four nights in the hospital, with Henry mostly by his side. Post-discharge, Henry insists that Richard recuperate with him till the term begins. During this time, Richard finds out that Henry returned from Rome before Bunny, although he had paid rent until February. Bunny visits unexpectedly and is surprised to see Richard. Henry concocts lies to explain his absence, leading to Bunny's sarcastic remarks about Henry's newfound benevolence. Later, someone knocks at their door persistently, but it goes unanswered. The next day, they have an argumentative visit from Francis. After his departure, Henry asks Richard to invite Bunny over, once he has access to his dorm room again.
chapter 4
Upon restarting classes, Richard's friends are absent, leaving him perplexed and irritated. One restless night, he encounters a drunken Bunny in the Commons and questions him about the group. Bunny vaguely hints that Henry isn't as he seems. The next day, Richard retrieves a forgotten Greek book from Henry’s apartment, finding flight details and a phone number. He impersonates Henry and discovers the latter reserved four flight seats to Buenos Aires. At Julian’s office on Monday, Richard sees all his friends. When he returns to his dorm, Henry arrives and invites him for a drive, ending up at a diner. Here, Henry offers details about their planned, but aborted, Argentina trip, revealing he knew Richard had impersonated him on the call. They head to Francis’s apartment where Henry has been residing. Henry discloses that their trip was cancelled because Francis couldn't access his trust fund. Richard inquires why they needed to escape, and Henry retorts by asking why Richard didn't try to stop them. Reality hits Richard. Henry and the others must have committed a murder. Henry admits this is true. He recounts that they hosted a bacchanal inspired by Julian’s class on Dionysiac madness. At Francis’s country house, they indulged in drinking, drugs, and minor poisoning. Bunny, who didn't take these attempts seriously, was not included later. Afraid of Richard judging them, they kept him in the dark too. On one occasion, they inadvertently killed a farmer. They left the body untouched, since no evidence linked them to the crime. Henry believed the episode was behind them, but Bunny's actions indicate otherwise.
chapter 5
Francis comes back and finds out that Richard now knows their murderous secret, due to Henry. Richard questions why they didn't just report it to the authorities, with Henry cynically responding that the local Vermont community would happily see four wealthy students incarcerated for life for unintentional crime. Their main concern now is that Bunny might blab. The night of the murder, Bunny had spotted them return home, blood-soaked. They lied and said they had hit a deer. Bunny, after reading an article about a slain farmer, started jokingly accusing them of the crime, making them anxious. To keep a watch on him, Henry took Bunny on a trip to Italy. During their trip in Italy, Bunny discovered Henry's diary, that contained details about the murder, while Henry was incapacitated with a headache. Henry and Francis reveal to Richard that Bunny wasn't upset about the murder itself but felt left out. Since then, they've been trying to silence Bunny with expensive gifts but know it can't go on forever. Bunny has sporadic tantrums, mainly directed at Henry, and takes it out on others too by commenting on Charles's alcoholism, Francis's sexual orientation, Richard's past, and his suspicion about Camilla and Charles's relationship. Richard is asked by Henry to help poison Bunny to stage an overdose, but Richard dismisses the idea as unfeasible, although Henry insists any approach will be risky. By April, their funds are depleting, Bunny's demands are increasing and he drunkenly confesses his knowledge about the murder to Richard. They start to consider other ways to murder Bunny before he spills the beans. The next day, Henry plans an 'accident' for Bunny during his routine Sunday trek. Richard, upon finding a note from Bunny to his girlfriend about attending a party, informs the group that Bunny won't be hiking. Just as they're about to leave, Bunny appears, pleasantly surprised, and questions their presence just as Henry advances towards him.
chapter 6
On their return to college, a snowfall begins. Richard, unable to fall asleep, visits Judy's room where she gives him a pill and persuades him to accompany her to a party. He chats with a girl and they leave together, but Richard's recollection of the night is hazy. Back in his room, he's awakened by Francis who impulsively kisses him. The unwanted advances continue until an intoxicated Charles interrupts with a call from Henry, reminding them of their Greek assignment. During the next morning's class, Julian comments on Bunny's absence. Richard later dreams of a drowned Bunny during his afternoon nap. As the snow persists, the students speculate about when Bunny's body will be discovered. Bunny’s drug-dealer friend Cloke Rayburn fears that Bunny could have had a violent encounter with his supplier in New York. Cloke and Charles search Bunny's room, where Charles finds a newspaper clipping about the deceased farmer. As he leaves, he is summoned to the Dean's office to talk to Bunny's father over the phone. Charles expresses regret about their actions, but Henry insists they are better off. The following day, Charles is interrogated by the FBI, who express interest in Bunny's association with Cloke. A news report suggests drugs as a possible factor in Bunny's disappearance, a theory his parents strongly refute. Camilla confides in Richard, explaining that after the farmer's murder, Henry had them perform a piglet sacrifice as a cleansing ritual, which she believes is why they were unaffected by the farmer's death. After a morning of rainfall, the snow thaws. That afternoon, a girl stumbles upon Bunny's body while walking her dog in the woods.
chapter 7
Richard catches a lift with Francis to attend Bunny's funeral at his family home in Connecticut, where Henry and the twins also reside. When Henry suffers from a headache, Richard supplies him with medication from the Corcorans’ washroom, cautioning him against combining them with liquor. The burial service is held the next day where Henry recites a sorrowful poem about the passing of a friend. Post funeral, Bunny is interred with Henry serving as one of the pallbearers. In a shocking gesture, Henry throws a clump of soil into the grave and subsequently smears it on his chest, leaving Richard, Francis, and the twins in shock.
chapter 8 part 1
Richard, back at Hampden, encounters a thinner, changed Henry in Julian's class. When Francis rings him in panic, fearing a heart attack, Richard rushes him to the ER. Francis is diagnosed with anxiety and advised to consult a psychiatrist. A crack in the twins' mirror triggers Richard's suspicion of an aggressive incident, confirmed by shards of glass in the fireplace. Charles lands in jail for drunk driving in Henry's car and Richard bails him out. On their way back, Charles discloses their lucky escape from police suspicion in Bunny's demise and voices his annoyance at Henry's domineering attitude. Back at the twins' place, Richard is stunned when Charles kisses Camilla. He later discusses this with Francis who admits to suspecting an incestuous relationship between the twins, as well as revealing his own past relations with Charles. Francis indicates that Camilla has likely been toying with Richard's feelings. Richard learns that Francis has visited a doctor again due to continued health concerns. Richard gets a jolt when Cloke informs him that Henry tried implicating him during an FBI interrogation. Francis then reports of Camilla's secret hotel stay and her close ties with Henry, which has upset Charles. When Richard discovers a sick Charles unconscious on a playground and gets him hospitalised, Camilla and Henry decline to visit. Richard and Francis smuggle in whiskey at Charles's request. Upon returning to his dorm, Richard finds Camilla who reveals a burn wound inflicted by Charles. Richard eventually surmises that Henry had intentionally let him find their Argentina travel tickets as part of his scheme to potentially pin the farmer's death on Richard.
chapter 8 part 2
When Richard visits Henry, he finds him engrossed in gardening. Henry reveals his life-long mental paralysis that only dissolved after he murdered the farmer, an experience which Richard horrifically identifies with. They later meet Julian, who shows them a posthumous letter from Bunny, seemingly a prank, detailing the farmer's murder. The letter's stationery matches that of a Rome hotel where Bunny and Henry stayed, alarming Richard and Francis. They soon encounter Henry at Julian's office, where Julian recognizes the letterhead. Henry reveals the entire incident to Julian and receives the letter. Class is interrupted the following day by the Dean, who announces Julian's sudden departure. As Charles and Henry confront legal matters regarding drunk driving, Richard and Francis find Charles intoxicated and showing them sleeping pills from Henry. Fearing Henry's intent to kill, Charles has refrained from taking them. The duo takes Charles to the countryside and upon Henry's call, Charles leaves in a huff. They then visit Camilla's hotel where they find Henry as well. Charles, armed with a gun from Francis's house, shoots Richard in the ensuing chaos. As the innkeeper rushes in, Henry whispers to Camilla, shoots himself, and collapses.
epilogue
Reflecting on Henry's suicide, Richard believes it was Henry's learned sense of obligation and sacrifice from Julian that drove him to end his life. Richard managed to graduate from Hampden, but Francis and the twins didn't return thereafter, leading to a slow drift apart among the remaining students. Richard pursued his further studies in California. During his dissertation, he gets a distressing letter from Francis hinting at suicidal tendencies. Richard immediately flies to Boston to find Francis recovering from a self-inflicted wrist wound. Francis confesses his engagement to a woman on his grandfather's discovery of his male partner. Richard reunites with Camilla, who has severed ties with Charles. Upon her departure, Richard confesses his feelings, which were met with her ongoing affection for Henry. Lately, Richard had a peculiar dream where he was inside a building displaying ancient civilization exhibits. He encountered Henry who insisted he wasn't dead but was merely having passport issues.
