Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Date of original publication: 1925
Genre: fiction, novel, drama
Historical information about the period of original publication: The novel was published during a time known as the “Roaring Twenties”. There was economic prosperity and America became a consumer society. There were many cultural and social reformations. Jazz music became popular, and flapper women emerged. Flapper women were women who wore makeup, short skirts, and kept their hair short; meaning they went against society’s acceptable behavior. Dancing became a big part of the social scene. The ‘20s were also known as the Jazz Age, because of the sudden popularity in Jazz music. The younger generation was open to the reform and urbanization. However, the older generation didn’t like the change. 1920 to 1933 was the Prohibition Era, which banned the sale of alcohol.
Biographical information about the author: F. Scott Fitzgerald was a Jazz Age novelist and a short story writer. He was born on September 24, 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was born into an upper middleclass family. His first writing to be printed was a detective story he wrote when he was thirteen that got published in the school newspaper. He enrolled in Princeton University but dropped out to join the army. He fell in love with Zelda Sayre but she broke off the engagement as a result of his unsteady income. Despite his success as an author, Fitzgerald was continually in debt and had to often write for magazines to support his family. When Fitzgerald became a famous and wealthy author, Zelda agreed to marry him. They enjoyed the fame and fortune. Fitzgerald’s novels often reflected their lavish lifestyles. Towards the end of his life, F. Scott Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and Zelda’s mental illness. Fitzgerald died December 21, 1940.
Plot Summary: Nick Carraway is young man who has moved from the Midwest to New York to study bonds. In New York, Nick rents a home in the