NewThe Great Gatsby
Desire, Deceit, and the Illusion of Glamour
by F. Scott FitzgeraldNovelTragedyModernist Fiction
The Great Gatsby
Originally in English1925
9 chapters194 pages3½h read
Share
About This Book
Step into the dazzling world of 1920s Long Island, where jazz echoes through grand mansions and secrets shimmer beneath the surface. Narrated by the reflective Nick Carraway, The Great Gatsby introduces the enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby—whose legendary parties mask a singular, haunting obsession. As old money and new fortunes collide, Fitzgerald weaves a vivid tapestry of longing, betrayal, and the pursuit of an unattainable dream. With iconic imagery and lyrical prose, this timeless classic lays bare the seductive allure and the devastating emptiness at the heart of the American Dream.
Characters
View all 31 charactersAbout the Author
F. Scott Fitzgerald
1896–1940
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) was an American novelist born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended Princeton University, though he left without graduating to join the army during World War I. Fitzgerald's early literary success came with the publication of his debut novel, 'This Side of Paradise' (1920), which captured the spirit of the Jazz Age. He married Zelda Sayre in 1920, and their tumultuous relationship often mirrored the extravagance and struggles of the era. Throughout his life, Fitzgerald grappled with financial instability and personal challenges, including Zelda's mental illness and his own battle with alcoholism. He spent much of the 1920s in Europe among the expatriate community of writers and artists, before returning to the United States in the 1930s.
Places and Terms in this Book
West Egg— The less fashionable of the two 'eggs' on Long Island, characterized by new money. Nick and Gatsby reside here.
New York— The city where Tom Buchanan has 'some woman,' leading to a tense phone call during dinner.
Long Island— The large island off New York City, divided into wealthy areas like West Egg and East Egg, forming the primary setting for the novel.
Louisville— The city in Kentucky where Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker spent their 'white girlhood' together.
Sound— Refers to the Long Island Sound, a body of water separating Long Island from the mainland, where Gatsby's house is located.
Chicago— The city where Tom and Daisy Buchanan spent two days after the war, and where Nick stopped on his way East.
Vocabulary
Armistice— An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.
hydroplane— A light, fast motorboat designed to skim over the surface of water.
incredulously— In a manner indicating disbelief.
old sport— A familiar, somewhat affected term of address, used frequently by Gatsby.
bona-fide— Genuine; real.
bootlegger— Someone who illegally makes, distributes, or sells alcoholic beverages, especially during Prohibition.
