Who wrote The Great Gatsby?
Quick answer
The Great Gatsby was written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925. Set on Long Island during the Jazz Age of the 1920s, it follows the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, as told by narrator Nick Carraway.
Key facts
- Author
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
- Published
- April 10, 1925
- Setting
- West Egg and East Egg, Long Island, and New York City, 1922
- Narrator
- Nick Carraway
The story in brief
Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, next to the mansion of Jay Gatsby, famous for his lavish parties. Nick learns that Gatsby, born poor as James Gatz, built his fortune partly through shady dealings, all to win back Daisy, Nick’s cousin, whom he loved years earlier. Daisy is now married to the wealthy, arrogant Tom Buchanan. Their reunion leads to tragedy.
Key symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock | Gatsby’s hopes and the unreachable dream |
| The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg on a billboard | A god-like witness to moral decay |
| The valley of ashes | Poverty and the cost of the wealthy’s carelessness |
| Gatsby’s parties | Glamour hiding emptiness |
Themes
- The American Dream and whether it can really be achieved
- Old money vs new money
- Love, illusion and the past: Gatsby’s belief that he can “repeat the past”
From flop to classic
The book sold modestly in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, and he died in 1940 believing himself a failure. During World War II, about 150,000 free copies were sent to American soldiers, sparking new interest. It’s now one of the most widely read American novels. It entered the public domain in the US in 2021.
Film versions
| Year | Gatsby played by |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Robert Redford |
| 2013 | Leonardo DiCaprio (directed by Baz Luhrmann) |
A Broadway musical opened in 2024.
For another famous novel, see what novel begins with “Call me Ishmael”. DiCaprio also starred in Titanic.
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