The Secret History Summary

The Secret History follows Richard Papen, a working-class student from California. He enrolls at Hampden College in Vermont to study literature. Right away, he becomes intrigued by a small, secretive group of Classics students led by the mysterious Henry Winter. This group also includes twins Charles and Camilla Macaulay, Francis Abernathy, and Bunny Corcoran. Richard joins their elite circle by assisting with a Greek translation, quickly becoming part of their intellectual world.

As Richard integrates into the group, he senses their devotion to classical studies and their fierce loyalty to their professor, Julian Morrow. The group leads a secluded life, filled with intense discussions and philosophies. However, things start to feel off as Richard notices bizarre behaviors, like injuries, strange boiling plants, and odd clothing stains. The group's exclusivity begins to reveal its dark undercurrents, hinting at something unsettling lurking beneath their intellectual pursuits.

Tensions rise significantly after the winter break in Rome. Bunny, who starts to act even more obnoxiously, becomes a threat to the group's secrecy. He learns a dangerous secret: during a wild ceremony inspired by the god Dionysus, they accidentally killed a local farmer in Vermont. Struggling with guilt and paranoia, the group grapples with their crime as Bunny begins to blackmail them for money to keep silent.

The stakes are heightened as Bunny’s demands continue to grow. Fearing that his instability might lead to exposure, the group decides that Bunny must be silenced for good. While on a hiking trip, Henry takes charge, pushing Bunny into a ravine. This shocking act creates a bond among the remaining members, but it also sets them on a path of dark consequences.

After the murder, their lives spiral into paranoia and guilt. Julian receives a letter suggesting he might know about Bunny's fate, making the group fear discovery. Richard and Francis try to stop Julian from uncovering the truth but fail—in the end, Julian leaves the college for good, further cutting them off from the past.

Once Bunny is gone, Charles starts unraveling under the pressure. He becomes consumed by paranoia and, while Richard and Francis try to help, things get tense. To take control, Charles captures Henry and threatens him with a gun. In an unexpected twist, a struggle forces Henry to intervene, ending with Henry tragically taking his own life, leaving the others reeling.

In the aftermath of Henry’s death, the group members drift apart. Charles returns home to California, Francis faces a pressured marriage, and Camilla becomes a caretaker for her sick grandmother. Richard remains the only one who completes his studies, still haunted by dreams of Henry. He lingers on his memories of a bonded group, filled with complicated fraternal feelings and the scars from their choices.

Throughout the narrative, Richard reflects on the blend of admiration and dread that came with their criminal acts, using these moments to explore the heavy weights of friendship and betrayal. The group, which began with intellectual passion and admiration, ultimately faces destruction due to their choices driven by fear and guilt.

The Secret History ends with a tragic climax filled with turmoil among the group of Ivy League students. Charles, overtaken by jealousy and fear, believes Henry plans to kill him. During a heated argument, he pulls a gun on Henry, and in a moment of chaos, Richard is accidentally shot. In a heartbreaking twist, Henry takes the gun from Charles and chooses to take his own life, seeing it as a way to protect his friends, echoing themes of Greek tragedy.

After Henry's suicide, Richard, Francis, Charles, and Camilla struggle to cope with the aftermath. Their friendship shatters, heavily weighed down by guilt and sorrow. Charles and Camilla’s relationship crumbles under pressure, while Francis battles severe depression and attempts suicide. Richard, feeling deep remorse and haunted by the events, is the only one to return to school the following semester to complete his English degree. Eventually, he goes back home, grappling with the changes in his life.

In the epilogue, years later, Richard, Francis, and Camilla reunite briefly after Francis's suicide attempt. Even after everything, Richard still idolizes Henry, viewing him as an eternal figure in their shared history. The story closes somberly, highlighting how deeply the tragic events have scarred each of their lives.