On 10 April 1925, The Great Gatsby, the now-iconic novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons. Though met with modest success upon release, the novel would later be hailed as one of the greatest works in modern literature — a piercing exploration of the American Dream, wealth, love, and illusion.
About the author
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on 24 September 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He was named after his distant relative, Francis Scott Key, the writer of the American national anthem. Fitzgerald attended Princeton University, although he left before graduating, and later joined the US Army during World War I. It was during this time that he began writing seriously, believing the war might end his life before he could make a literary name for himself.
He married Zelda Sayre in 1920, a figure as dazzling and troubled as himself. Their tempestuous relationship came to symbolise the highs and lows of the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald’s life was marked by both literary brilliance and personal struggle, including financial instability and battles with alcoholism. He died in 1940 at the age of 44, believing himself a failure — unaware of the enduring legacy his work would leave behind.
Notable works
Fitzgerald’s body of work includes four completed novels and numerous short stories. His most notable titles are:
- This side of paradise (1920)
- The beautiful and damned (1922)
- The Great Gatsby (1925)
- Tender is the night (1934)
His unfinished final novel, The Last Tycoon, was published posthumously in 1941.
Plot summary of The Great Gatsby
Set in the summer of 1922 on Long Island, New York, The Great Gatsby follows the story of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, as told through the eyes of his neighbour, Nick Carraway. Gatsby is known for throwing lavish parties in hopes of reuniting with his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, who lives across the bay with her wealthy but unfaithful husband, Tom.
As the story unfolds, themes of obsession, illusion, and the corrupting nature of wealth emerge. Gatsby’s dream of recapturing the past ultimately leads to his downfall, and the novel ends with Nick’s somber reflection on the disillusionment of the American Dream.
Initial reception
Upon its release, The Great Gatsby received mixed reviews and sold poorly, with just over 20,000 copies sold in the first year. Critics were unsure of its style and message, and Fitzgerald was deeply disappointed by the novel’s lack of success. It wasn’t until after his death that the book found a larger audience, particularly after being adopted into American school curricula in the mid-20th century.
Film adaptations
The Great Gatsby has been adapted for film multiple times, with varying degrees of critical and commercial success. Notable versions include:
- 1949: Starring Alan Ladd
- 1974: Starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow
- 2000: A TV film starring Toby Stephens and Mira Sorvino
- 2013: Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan — a visually lavish adaptation that introduced the novel to a new generation
Legacy and significance
Today, The Great Gatsby is considered a cornerstone of 20th-century literature and a defining novel of the Jazz Age. It offers a timeless critique of materialism, class division, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. Its lyrical prose, symbolic imagery, and tragic depth have earned it a permanent place in the literary canon worldwide.
The novel’s influence stretches beyond literature into music, fashion, and culture, symbolising both the glamour and hollowness of wealth. As relevant now as it was in the 1920s, The Great Gatsby continues to captivate readers and scholars alike, almost a century after it first appeared on bookshelves.
Also read: ON THIS DAY: Remembering Virginia Woolf and Eugène Ionesco
