Tartt's first novel, "The Secret History," was published in 1992. Photo: AFP
Theo Decker takes the role of protagonist,
and the book's blurb describes him as a young boy who is "alone and determined to avoid being taken in by the city as an orphan" and "entranced by the one thing that reminds him of his mother: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that soon draws Theo into the art underworld."
Decker's miraculous survival in conjunction with the artwork and the book's title suggest links to Pennsylvanian settlers of Central European origin -- the goldfinch motif being associated with good luck.
Tartt's first book, "The Secret History," became a major best-seller upon its release in 1992, and "The Little Friend" was a shortlistee for the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2003.
Little, Brown has tied up a US deal for "The Goldfinch," and international agreements are expected to follow.