When The Great Gatsby was published in April 1925, it struggled to find an audience. F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale of Jazz Age excess and the pursuit of the American dream received a modest reception, with fewer than 25,000 copies sold initially. Described by one critic, “I don’t even know whether it is fully intelligible to anyone who has not had glimpses of the kind of life it depicts,” it slipped towards obscurity following its release, as reported by The Guardian. Fitzgerald, a St. Paul native who enjoyed early literary success, died in 1940, not living to see his novel's rise to prominence—a rise that truly began with the distribution of the book to U.S. servicemen during World War II, according to CBS News.
Now, as "The Great Gatsby" marks its 100th anniversary, it does so as a pillar of American literature, examining the country's obsession with wealth and the elusive American dream. The novel began its ascent to greatness well after Fitzgerald's death, becoming an educational standard and eventually rising to the near top of Modern Library's best 20th-century novels poll. Its timelessness and relevance reflect in the multiple adaptations it has inspired—from films to stage productions, and, since entering public domain in 2021, a host of creative reimaginings. In true Fitzgeraldian irony, the man never saw the success of his work; he had completed only one other novel, "Tender is the Night," before his untimely death, as noted by CBS News.
In New York, a hub for Fitzgerald's roaring '20s saga, the Empire State Building paid tribute by going green, while Empire Steak House threw a so-called "nation's most extravagant celebration," complete with live jazz and period dancing. Back in St. Paul, the Minnesota History Center launched an exhibit dedicated to Fitzgerald's life and work. For those who missed the literary boat in high school, live readings abound this month, as detailed by CBS News.
As a novel reimagined for the 21st century by Jane Crowther, "The Great Gatsby" takes on new life, exploring the perspectives of those the original downplayed—especially the women. Crowther's adaptation offers a modern riff on the classic tune that challenged social norms and pondered the idea of reinvention. In her words, it reinterprets Fitzgerald's narrative "into a new melody," as mentioned in The Guardian.
