The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Share:
Best of: books for ages 18+ #9: ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F Scott Fitzgerald
Written in 1925, ‘The Great Gatsby’ has recently had huge popular and critical success. This was not always the case though; when Fitzgerald died in 1940, he believed himself unsuccessful and bound to fade into obscurity.
In 2013, it was made into an incredibly successful film by Baz Luhrmann starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the titular role, praised for its elaborate costumes and settings as well as its highly-stylised soundtrack.
A short and easy read, ‘The Great Gatsby’ has been taught in schools for its interesting themes. The story features decadence and idealism, as well as being a vivid portrayal of the Jazz Age in America.
The story features the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, a socialite and millionaire, and his infamous parties. Told through the eyes of a relatively uninteresting narrator, it is a portrayal of the lives of the rich and famous, but also a cautionary tale of what too much money and time – but too little sense – can do to people.
By the same author: A huge array of novels and short stories, often about alcoholism, a disease which Fitzgerald struggled with for much of his adult life.