The Great Gatsby (Annotated)

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Overview

"The Great Gatsby," penned by the brilliant F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a timeless masterpiece that weaves a tapestry of opulence, unrequited love, and the elusive pursuit of the American Dream. Set against the glittering backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, Fitzgerald takes readers on a mesmerizing journey into the heart of the Jazz Age, where excess and extravagance reign supreme.

At the center of this literary gem is Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic and elusive millionaire, whose lavish parties are the stuff of legend. Gatsby's magnetic allure is surpassed only by his undying love for Daisy Buchanan, a beacon of beauty and privilege. As the story unfolds, Fitzgerald peels back the layers of Gatsby's world, revealing the fragility of dreams, the corrosive nature of wealth, and the poignant echoes of a bygone era.

The prose is a symphony of elegance, with Fitzgerald's lyrical language painting vivid portraits of the roaring social scene and the complex characters navigating its shimmering waters. From the green light at the end of Daisy's dock to the haunting eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg overlooking the Valley of Ashes, every detail is meticulously crafted, inviting readers into a world that is at once dazzling and disquieting.

"The Great Gatsby" is not merely a tale of unrequited love; it is a haunting exploration of the illusions that shape our desires and the inevitable collisions between the past and the present. As Fitzgerald invites readers to peer beyond the façade of glamour, they are confronted with the enduring themes of identity, class, and the relentless pursuit of a happiness that always seems to slip through one's fingers.

This literary classic has transcended generations, resonating with readers for its profound insights into the human condition and the fragility of the dreams that propel us forward. Fitzgerald's magnum opus stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling, capturing the essence of an era and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of American literature. "The Great Gatsby" is not just a novel; it's an immersive experience, an evocative journey that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782487116139
Publisher:	Jason Nollan
Publication date:	11/15/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
File size:	183 KB

About the Author

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, an American essayist, short story writer, novelist and screenwriter, was born on September 24, 1896. During his life, he published four novels, four short-story collections, and 164 short stories. While he achieved popular success in the 1920s, his work was not recognized by critics until after he died. Now widely regarded as one of the great writers of the 20th-Century, he was best known for his depictions of the excesses of the Jazz Age. Born into a middle-class family in St. Paul, MN, Fitzgerald spent most of his childhood in New York and went to Princeton University. After a failed romance, he dropped out of college to join the Army during World War I. While stationed in Alabama, he met the southern debutante Zelda Sayre. While she initially rejected his advances because of his poor financial prospects, she agreed to marry him after he published This Side of Paradise in 1920. The book was a commercial success and became a cultural sensation. His second novel, The Beautiful and Damned, published two years later, enhanced his reputation. He also wrote for popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's Weekly, and Esquire, which helped support his affluent lifestyle. Fitzgerald began traveling to Europe, where he met the writers and artists of the "Lost Generation" ex-pat community, including Ernest Hemingway. Fitzgerald's third and best-known novel, The Great Gatsby, was published in 1925 to generally favorable reviews, but it did not sell well. His last novel, Tender Is the Night, was published in 1934.Fitzgerald's final years were difficult. His wife was institutionalized for mental health reasons and he struggled financial as the popularity of his works declined. He moved to Hollywood to become a screenwriter but was not successful at it. Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and eventually overcame it, but he died of a heart attack at the age of 44. He had been working on a fifth novel, The Last Tycoon, but didn't finished it. His friend from Princeton, Edmund Wilson, who became an influential literary critic, finished the book and published it a year later.

Date of Birth:

September 24, 1896

Date of Death:

December 21, 1940

Place of Birth:

St. Paul, Minnesota

Education:

Princeton University