Books

Hardcover. Bound in blue cloth, faded to gray on the spine. Black lettering on the spine. No DJ. The spine strip is cracked at the rear hinge - not enough to detach anything, but enough to make me worry - about 3 inches remain solid. Front side is secure. Some scuffing at crown and foot of spine. At front gutter, a 4 inch crack in the spine where backing linen is visible - but linen is secure. Similar hairline crack to endpapers at read gutter as well. Binding remains secure, but the low quality cloth used in the binding is showing its faults. Title page has no date. Copyright page says only Published 1926. 218 pages. Slightly shelf-cocked. Despite low quality materials, this is a first UK edition of Gatsby. Bruccoli notes (in his bibliography) that the first UK edition exists in two forms: one with dark blue cloth with gold lettering, and another with light blue boards and black lettering (this one). He refers to this edition as a remainder binding or a cheap reprint, but acknowledges that its the same printing and is still a first edition, though it's clear that the dark-blue edition is the preferred one. Please email with questions or to request photos. If you see a photo beside this listing, please be aware that it s an ABE Stock Photo (whatever that is) and not a photo of this book.

"The Great Gatsby," penned by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, is a classic American novel set in the Jazz Age, exploring themes of wealth, love, decadence, and the American Dream. Narrated by Nick Carraway, the story unfolds in the summer of 1922 on Long Island, New York. Carraway, a Yale graduate and World War I veteran, moves to West Egg, a fictional affluent area, to pursue a career in finance. He becomes neighbors with the mysterious and fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby. Gatsby, known for his lavish parties, remains enigmatic and elusive to most of his guests. His grandiose gatherings aim to attract Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin and Gatsby's former lover. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy and arrogant man with a volatile nature. Through Nick's eyes, the story reveals Gatsby's obsession with Daisy, stemming from their past romance. Gatsby, born poor, amassed his fortune through questionable means to win Daisy's love. His opulent lifestyle, however, is a facade masking his deep longing for the past and his desire to relive the romantic moments shared with Daisy before World War I separated them. As the plot unravels, tensions escalate among the characters. Tom, suspicious of Gatsby's intentions, exposes his criminal connections and tries to discredit him. Daisy, torn between her love for Gatsby and her social status, struggles with her feelings. Tragedy strikes as the complex web of relationships culminates in a devastating climax. In a sequence of events involving Tom, Gatsby, Daisy, and others, the consequences of their actions and the underlying tensions between old money and new wealth come to a head. Fitzgerald's masterpiece is a scathing critique of the American Dream, revealing the emptiness and moral decay lurking beneath the glamorous facade of wealth and excess. It explores the disillusionment of the Jazz Age, portraying characters driven by ambition, greed, and unattainable dreams. "The Great Gatsby" remains a poignant and timeless portrayal of the human condition and the pursuit of happiness in a society marked by materialism and superficiality.