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The Great Gatsby
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The Great Gatsby Prebound - 2004

by F. Scott Fitzgerald


About this book

Written in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be one of the author’s greatest works. Set in New York City and Long Island during the Roaring Twenties, the focus of the story is (of course) its title character, Jay Gatsby, and his unswerving desire to be reunited with Daisy Buchanan, the love he lost five years earlier. However, Nick Carraway, who happens to be both Gatsby’s neighbor and Daisy’s cousin, narrates Gatsby's journey from poverty to wealth, into the arms of his beloved, and eventually to death.

The Great Gatsby is undoubtedly one of the greatest American literary documents of the 1920s, the decade for which Fitzgerald himself coined the term “Jazz Age.” However, in writing the book, Fitzgerald was in fact holding up a mirror to the society of which he was a part. In true Modernist fashion, The Great Gatsby addresses the social issues of the period — namely materialism and displaced spirituality — that ultimately led the decline of the era.

The novel’s initial sales situation was less than impressive; fewer than 25,000 copies were sold by Fitzgerald’s death in 1940. But The Great Gatsby gained great popularity during WWII as the critical mainstream began to embrace the author’s work. The Armed Services Editions circulated 150,000 copies to troops alone. Today, The Great Gatsby has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, sells an additional 500,000 copies annually, and is Scribner's most popular title. Ranked #2 on the Modern Library’s list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century, the novel is also listed on their Top 100 Novels as well as The Observer’s All-Time 100 Best Novels and Time Magazine’s 100 Best Modern Novels.

The Great Gatsby has resulted in a number of adaptations, including Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 major motion picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton.

First Edition Identification

Charles Scribner’s Sons first published The Great Gatsby in April of 1925. A highly valued collectible, first editions can be identified by a number of points of issue, including a typo on the back of the dust jacket that spells “jay Gatsby” with a lowercase “j,” over which a correction has been made (by hand) in ink or with a stamp. Other points specific to the first edition include “chatter” on page 60, line 16; “northern” on page 119, line 22; “sick in tired” on page 205, lines 9-10; and “Union Street Station” on page 211, lines 7-8.

The cover of the first edition of The Great Gatsby is among the most celebrated in American literature. Artist Francis Cugat’s design depicts disembodied eyes and a mouth over a blue skyline with images of naked women reflected in the irises. It has been said that Fitzgerald so loved the art (which was completed before the book), that he rewrote parts of the book to better incorporate it.

With its original dust jacket, the rare first edition of The Great Gatsby has sold for between $100,000 and $150,000. Not too shabby — considering that same book sold for just $2 in 1925.

Details

  • Title The Great Gatsby
  • Author F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Binding Prebound
  • Edition Limited Edition
  • Pages 180
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Perfection Learning
  • Date 2004-10
  • ISBN 9780756948955 / 0756948959
  • Weight 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 in (20.07 x 12.95 x 1.78 cm)
  • Reading level 1070
  • Library of Congress subjects Psychological fiction, Love stories
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC
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The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Used
  • good
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780756948955
ISBN 10
0756948959
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Description:
Perfection Learning Corporation, 2005. Library Binding. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$28.77
FREE shipping to USA
The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Used
  • Acceptable
Condition
Used - Acceptable
ISBN 13
9780756948955
ISBN 10
0756948959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$28.77
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Perfection Learning Corporation, 2005. Library Binding. Acceptable. Disclaimer:Former library book; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$28.77
FREE shipping to USA
The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Used
  • Acceptable
Condition
Used - Acceptable
ISBN 13
9780756948955
ISBN 10
0756948959
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$28.77
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Perfection Learning Corporation, 2005. Library Binding. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$28.77
FREE shipping to USA
The Great Gatsby
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780756948955
ISBN 10
0756948959
Quantity Available
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HOUSTON, Texas, United States
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This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Perfection Learning, 2004-10. Hardcover. Good.
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The Great Gatsby
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Great Gatsby

by Fitzgerald, F. Scott

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780756948955
ISBN 10
0756948959
Quantity Available
2
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Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
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This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
Perfection Learning Corporation. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
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NZ$33.77
FREE shipping to USA