Books about books about books. That’s what we’ll be looking at today, more specifically the ‘dark academia’ genre. Often seen floating around, it was originally a tag from the heady days of Tumblr mid-2010s defining a particular aesthetic. Surrounded by Gothic spires and secrets untold, higher-learning and education are just some of this subgenre’s staples.
But where to begin? Here we’ll give a rundown of five of the best required reading when it comes to learning the truth behind dark academia.
The Secret History – Donna Tartt (1992)
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Laying the contemporary foundations for the genre, this classic thriller would pave the way, inspiring its modern aesthetics. At its heart it’s a detective mystery novel inverted.
Set in the world of a New England liberal arts college, it follows a group of students losing their grip on reality, descending into a world of corruption. With a murder mystery unfolding, narrated years after the horrific event, it’s a study of history, indulgence, the classics, and, ultimately, the nature of evil.
But it was the overall atmosphere of the novel that really managed to set the template for the dark academia ‘vibe.’ The book itself also draws on a whole host of references, being immersed in a world of higher education and intellectual aspirations. This is where the real meat of the book comes from, providing the ideal starting point for any readers looking to dive into the genre.
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No stranger to these lists, we turn once again to Kuang with her journey into the realm of fantasy. An imaginative historical epic, she’s never been one to short-change readers when it comes to scope and scale, and here is no different.
Taking place in Oxford, 1836, it’s an alternative look at history set in a fantastical English past. Educated in the classics, Robin Swift is preparing for the day he’ll attend Oxford University, enrolling in their Royal Institute of Translation, otherwise known as Babel. As the global center for magic and translation, it’s also the heart of British power around the world. An orphan of Chinese heritage, Swift must now ask some larger questions of himself: what is the cost of knowledge, and can he potentially betray his motherland?
In typical R.F. Kuang fashion, there’s so much deeper subtext running under the surface here. Taking various genres, she makes them work for her and what she wants to say. Her use of dark academia to establish the tone gives the fantasy world its thrust, ultimately showing what can be done when effectively applied with imagination.
These Violent Delights – Micah Nemerever (2020)
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With an LGBT core premise, this novel focuses solely on the relationship between two male students. While it’s set in early-seventies Pittsburgh, the story itself feels wholly fresh and modern, providing a solid character study.
The narrative revolves around Julian and Paul, two university freshmen meeting for the first time, and the tumultuous relationship that ensues. Paul is a sensitive individual looking to break away from his working-class background, and it is in the wealthy Julian that he sees his intellectual equal. The two of them then embark on friendship and then intimacy that becomes all-consuming, as violence threatens to engulf them both.
Like ‘The Secret History,’ Nemerever has created a thriller that expertly builds upon its sense of dread. Looking at desire and human nature, it also asks larger questions, providing fresh new angles for the genre, while never forgetting its roots.
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This time aimed at a Young Adult audience, Àbíké-Íyímídé’s high-school drama really pushes the dark academia genre in fresh and interesting directions. Speaking on racism in education, it’s no wonder it received so much acclaim (as well as it being contested in ‘various’ schools).
Here readers are transported to Niveus Private Academy, a prestigious school with some dark secrets lurking underneath. Chiamaka, their head girl, and Devon, a gifted musician, are both high achievers with a solid reputation. That’s when an anonymous texter known only as ‘Aces’ begins exposing their secrets, and everything starts to unravel.
I can’t say too much, as to do so would spoil the many surprises. With some major twists and turns, it’s a high-school thriller that really does keep the reader guessing. And while it may be aimed at a younger audience than some of the other books here, it’s no less hard-hitting, bringing up some serious issues that remain prevalent to this day.
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde (1890)
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So it’s back to the basics, returning for our final choice to a book many will already know and love. Wilde’s Dorian Gray is still as impactful today as it ever was. Not only does it speak to LGBT issues of the day, but it also laid the groundwork for incorporating the chattering intelligentsia classes with a distinct Gothic style.
In it, Dorian Gray is a distinguished young gentleman, being highly regarded within polite society. Behind closed doors, though, a different picture is being painted. Taken under the wing of Lord Henry Wotton, he’s influenced and inspired to a life of sin and debauchery. And it is his commissioned portrait that then takes all external traces of this evil, transforming the painting hidden away within his attic.
Providing a precursor to the dark academia genre, it also offers its LGBT-themed underpinnings of yearning and desire. Remaining as relevant as ever, it draws upon a whole host of ideas, speaking to themes of vanity and freedom. For anyone wanting to really understand how the genre formed, then this would be an ideal starting point.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifelong lover of quality storytelling, Sam grew up in rural England with little else but reading (okay, and some gaming). Starting with Charlotte's Web, he developed a passion for ghost stories and comedy. With his background in narrative and scriptwriting, he writes for Book Notification, providing recommendations both good and not so terrible.