The Secret History
The chronological debut and a defining entry point to Tartt's literary mystery fiction.
Author guide
Donna Tartt Books in Order
Donna Tartt (born 1963 in Greenwood, Mississippi) is an American novelist, essayist, and critic. She studied at the University of Mississippi and Bennington College. Her three novels—The Secret History, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch—are known for elaborate plots, atmospheric settings, moral ambiguity, and psychologically complex characters. The Goldfinch won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Carnegie Medal. Her work has been published internationally in numerous languages.
literary fictionmysterypsychological suspensesouthern gothic
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Novels (3)
- The Secret History
novel · 1992
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…
- The Little Friend
novel · 2002
A young girl with a brother murdered years ago decides to find and punish his killer.
- The Goldfinch
novel · 2013
"The Goldfinch is a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind....Donna Tartt has delivered an extraordinary work of fiction."--Stephen…
Frequently asked questions about Donna Tartt
Who is Donna Tartt?
Donna Tartt is an American novelist from Greenwood, Mississippi, best known for psychologically rich fiction with suspenseful and morally complex plots.
Where was Donna Tartt born, and where did she study?
She was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, raised in Grenada, and studied at the University of Mississippi before graduating from Bennington College.
Sources: mississippiencyclopedia.org (opens in a new tab)pulitzer.org (opens in a new tab)
What influenced Donna Tartt’s writing?
Her fiction echoes classic adventure stories she read as a child and engages with themes from Greek tragedy. Her time at Bennington also helped inspire her debut novel.
What major award did Donna Tartt win?
The Goldfinch won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Why is Donna Tartt considered an important contemporary novelist?
Her novels combine literary ambition with suspense and sustained attention to the moral repercussions of violence. The Mississippi Encyclopedia says her debut launched her into literary stardom.
Sources: mississippiencyclopedia.org (opens in a new tab)bennington.edu (opens in a new tab)