The Great Gatsby was first published in 1925 and was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and it has since become one of America’s literary classics- it offers a stunning insight into boom time society and is one of our very favourites.

The book is narrated from the voice of Nick Carraway, an ex WW1 soldier who moves to New York to learn the bond business. He moves into West Egg, not far from where his cousin Daisy lives, who is married to her brusque husband, Tom. Early on in the book we are informed that Tom is having an affair with another woman, yet Nick’s wealthy neighbour Jay Gatsby, the thrower of enormous parties has his eyes set on Daisy. A tale of adultery, affluence and tragedy then ensues that grips most readers from start to finish.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota to an Irish Catholic Family. He entered Princeton University in 1913, but eventually left to enrol in the US army in the First World War. He published five major, of which The Great Gatsby is the third. “This Side of Paradise”, “The Beautiful and Damned” and “Tender is the Night” we all published during his lifetime and his final novel, “The Last Tycoon” was published posthumously.

I am personally very interested in American boom time society, and this was probably the reason I was first attracted to the book, but ultimately this played little part in why I loved it so much. The plot itself is gripping from start to finish, and the way in which you gradually learn more and more about the initially mysterious Jay Gatsby lures you into the book. The side by side comparison of the different relationships within the book is also really interesting, yet this is far from a purely romantic novel- it has a very hard edge to it which gives it so much impact.

The Great Gatsby has become one of America’s great novels for very good reasons- I believe it is really worth a read and would encourage you to try it if you haven’t already. Do you agree with our verdict? Let us know through the polling widget in the top right hand corner and feel free to express your thoughts in our book forum.