On Display: On Campus

Earlier this year, a book showing enthusiastic use by many hands and the signs of several aquatic adventures landed on my desk for replacement. The Secret History by Donna Tartt, a thriller set at fictional Hampden College, concerns a small group of students, their Classics professor, and a murder. I read it soon after its publication in 1992, ensnared by the first sentence: "The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation."

Some low-ish double-digit number of hours later, few of which included sleep, I had the sense that this book about Classics would itself become a classic, and indeed, the work has been credited by some as the inspiration for the literary trend known as "dark academia."

This display features works of dark academia (see also Harry Potter), as well as so-called academic novels (mainly focused on faculty) and campus novels (detailing the experiences of students). They take place on all manner of campuses from K-12 classrooms to boarding schools to post-doc university settings, and they feature faculty, faculty spouses, students, and other associated characters. 

If you'd like to take some time to wander in these groves of academe, visit the library lobby to browse and borrow books, DVDs and audiobooks, or choose books by viewing the companion site online. If you prefer digital titles, we have more ebooks and audiobooks online at our OverDrive website.

Here's hoping you will find something that captures your interest!