Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

"The Great Gatsby" was published 100 years ago today
Library of Congress ^ | 4/10/25

Posted on 04/10/2025 11:35:30 AM PDT by Borges

On the exact 100th anniversary of the publication date of “The Great Gatsby,” the Library of Congress is producing a full reading of the novel, livestreamed from our Thomas Jefferson building on Capitol Hill. Be an old sport and join us in-person or online to experience this classic American novel which entered the public domain in 2021.


TOPICS: Books/Literature
KEYWORDS: overrated
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 04/10/2025 11:35:30 AM PDT by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Borges

“F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third novel, “The Great Gatsby,” is published to mixed reviews and disappointing sales—fewer than 25,000 copies by the author’s death in 1940. By the 2010s, it is routinely selling 500,000 copies a year.”

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-10


2 posted on 04/10/2025 11:39:38 AM PDT by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Borges

The Titanic set sail on this day 113 years ago.


3 posted on 04/10/2025 11:41:34 AM PDT by Macho MAGA Man (The last two weren't balloons. One was a cylindrical object)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Borges

I read the book but never really understood why it has such literary acclaim. I guess I sympathized with Jay because no one forgets their first love but he was pretty much a jerk.


4 posted on 04/10/2025 11:42:05 AM PDT by Damifino (The true measure of a man is found in what he would do if he knew no one would ever find out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

I bet most of those sales are to high school students. LOL


5 posted on 04/10/2025 11:42:57 AM PDT by ConjunctionJunction (Vim vi repellere licet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/the-empire-state-building-is-turning-into-a-green-light-for-the-great-gatsbys-centennial-040825


6 posted on 04/10/2025 11:43:29 AM PDT by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Damifino

He’s not supposed to be a wholly admirable character.


7 posted on 04/10/2025 11:44:00 AM PDT by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Damifino

I didn’t care for it much myself. Not saying it was bad, but not my cup of tea...


8 posted on 04/10/2025 12:00:18 PM PDT by packrat35 (Pureblood! No clot shot for me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Borges

Dull book that does not hold up.


9 posted on 04/10/2025 12:09:01 PM PDT by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Not because it was good but because high schools and colleges made people read it.


10 posted on 04/10/2025 12:10:49 PM PDT by gnarledmaw (If you dont like my sense of humor, please let me know so I can laugh at you too.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gnarledmaw

I read the Cliffs notes, does that count?


11 posted on 04/10/2025 12:12:42 PM PDT by oldskoolwargamer2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: gnarledmaw

Then there Tender Is The Night. A lot of high-lifers. With all those parties Gatsby threw you would have thought his true love would have known all along he was there. I wonder if our Nick Carraway is anything like this one. Hope not. Seemed like a likable innocent hanger-on.

Fitzgerald died in his mid 40’s. Bummer. Hope he enjoyed that kind of life. Princeton-right?


12 posted on 04/10/2025 12:16:07 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Borges
There is an infrared photograph of me and what might be F. Scott Fitzgerald's ghost.

Not kidding.

13 posted on 04/10/2025 12:22:40 PM PDT by Ciaphas Cain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: montag813

I read it recently. It holds up just fine. Beautiful prose.


14 posted on 04/10/2025 12:24:22 PM PDT by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: gnarledmaw

It is good though.


15 posted on 04/10/2025 12:24:53 PM PDT by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: montag813

Thank you. Dull as dishwater. Difficult to follow


16 posted on 04/10/2025 12:27:11 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (24 years on Free Republic, 12/10/24! More than 10,500 replies and still not shutting up!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Damifino

I had a similar though probably more pronounced reaction to the Great Gatsby when I read it years ago.


17 posted on 04/10/2025 12:29:59 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Borges

Way better read as an adult than as a high schooler, or at least it was for me. New wealth vs old wealth, different mores Midwest vs East, Prohibition society, all of those things were not particularly accessible for a wet-behind-the-ears kid like me who was yet to fall off the turnip truck.


18 posted on 04/10/2025 12:33:34 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Borges

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”


19 posted on 04/10/2025 12:35:31 PM PDT by HockeyPop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Borges

Z Z z z z . . .


20 posted on 04/10/2025 12:36:50 PM PDT by linMcHlp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson