The Great Gatsby: Complete 1925 Text with Introduction and Afterword by Richard Smoley

The novel follows Jay Gatsby, a mysterious self-made man, in his desperate quest for the love of the beguiling Daisy Buchanan—and for a place in the highest ranks of society. Gatsby’s fate reflects the emptiness and disappointment that come from his search. First published in 1925, Gatsby is regarded as the epitome of the spirit of the Roaring Twenties: the fast life, new wealth, and a glamour and a frivolity that prove to be hollow. Fitzgerald’s genius portrays this world with humor, insight, and the profound sympathy that is the hallmark of all great fiction. F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) was one of the most admired writers of the twentieth century. His works include and is by far his best-known and most beloved novel. Richard Smoley, author of the foreword and afterword, is the distinguished author of twelve books, mostly recently also published by G&D. A graduate of Harvard and Oxford universities, he published while still an undergraduate.