Harborne Library

Have you read The Secret History by Donna Tartt? It's well worth a read and it's available to borrow from Birmingham Libraries.

Donna Tartt’s The Secret History begins not with the mystery of who committed a murder, but with the unsettling knowledge of who did it. From its opening pages, the novel draws us into a world of beauty, privilege, intellect, and concealed corruption. Richard Papen, a lonely young man from California, arrives at an elite Vermont college hoping to escape the dullness of his former life. There he becomes fascinated by a small, exclusive group of students who study ancient Greek under the mysterious Professor Julian Morrow. They seem elegant, brilliant, and almost untouched by ordinary life—but behind their classical manners lies something deeply dangerous.

At the heart of the novel is the seductive power of belonging. Richard does not simply admire the group; he longs to become part of their private universe. Henry is cold and commanding, Francis refined and anxious, Charles and Camilla beautiful and inseparable, while Bunny appears cheerful but increasingly cruel. Their conversations are filled with Greek philosophy, tragedy, beauty, and the desire to escape the limits of modern morality. Yet Tartt slowly reveals that intellectual brilliance does not make people wiser or kinder. In fact, their education becomes a weapon, allowing them to justify actions that would horrify anyone outside their circle.

What makes The Secret History so haunting is its atmosphere of inevitable ruin. Autumn leaves, snow-covered roads, candlelit rooms, expensive clothes, and ancient books create a world that feels almost dreamlike. But beneath this beauty, guilt spreads quietly through every friendship. After the murder, the group does not collapse immediately; instead, it decays from within. Suspicion replaces affection, fear destroys loyalty, and the perfect image they created begins to crack. Tartt shows that punishment does not always arrive through courts or prisons. Sometimes it lives inside the mind, returning in sleepless nights, broken relationships, and the unbearable memory of what cannot be undone.

More than a dark academic thriller, The Secret History is a novel about the danger of confusing beauty with goodness. Its characters worship the ancient world, yet repeat its tragedies without possessing the courage or wisdom of its heroes. They seek freedom from ordinary rules but discover that no one can escape consequence. The novel leaves us with a disturbing question: how far might we go to remain inside a world that makes us feel chosen—and what would happen when that beautiful world finally demanded a sacrifice?

Join us for Toddler Time, tomorrow at 9.30am and Pre-School Storytime at 2.15pm

Do you need help with your computer, laptop, phone or digital skills? Pop in on Tuesday 10th June 2.30-4.30pm and get the help that you need. It's FREE!

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Recently read this! It'll make a great film ❤️

The number one Sunday Times Bestseller The Women: The Bestselling, Unforgettable Novel That Has Captured Millions of Hearts

The winners of the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction and Non-fiction will be announced on Thursday evening!

It’s nearly time...

Join us live from 6.30pm (BST) next Thursday 11 June as we announce the winners of the 2026 Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Watch the ceremony live on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5RLnMjYAWg

If you've been enjoying the craft sessions with Imogen on Saturday afternoons at 2.15pm, tomorrow is her last session. So come along and join in with some fun craft activities upstairs in the children's library.

Don't forget to join us at 12.00 for Saturday Storytime with author Jane Blackham!

HALF-TERM EVENT. Join us at Saturday Storytime on 30th May when author Jane Blackham will be re-visiting us to introduce her second 'Jeremiah' book. 12.00-12.45pm.

Unfortunately we are having to cancel our Toddler Time session next week due to staff shortages. We apologise for any inconvenience.