this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)

Books

1 readers
1 users here now

founded 10 months ago
MODERATORS
communick@metacritics.zone
1
Do I have to read anything before "The Secret History"? (alien.top)
submitted 9 months ago by ireeeenee@alien.top to c/books@metacritics.zone
3 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I'm excited to get into reading this book by Donna Tartt, but I've been told that the book mentions a lot of classic books. Should I read any specific book before "The Secret History"? I'm not asking if I need to read some books to understand "The Secret History". I'm asking if "The Secret History" contains spoilers of other books.

I know about it mentioning a bunch of classics like Inferno by Dante, Ivanhoe, The Invisible Man, Paradise Lost, Vanity Fair, Treasure Island, etc. Can I read it knowing I won't jump into spoilers or is it better for me to wait till I read these before?

top 3 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] BeautifulEssay8@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

You're not gonna read all those books.

[–] Ayearinbooks@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

I don't remember spoilers - in general I wouldn't worry about them for things like Paradise Lost or Dante anyway.

[–] RandomMusings-5044@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

No you do not have to read anything prior to reading The Secret History, it does not spoil any of the texts you mention. It's more like nods to them which make you go "noice, I see what Tartt did there" if you've read them but the book can very much be enjoyed on its own.