Books

New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1920; 1922; 1925; 1934; 1941. . First editions, first impressions, first issue of The Great Gatsby with 'sick in tired' on p205, 'chatter' on p60, 'northern' p119, and 'Union Street station' p211; 5 vols, 8vo; Scribner seal to copyright pages, page stock slightly toned (as often), very occasional minor spotting and smudging to margins, evidence of ownership signature to half-title of The Last Tycoon, else all vols clean and fresh; full dark green morocco gilt by Temple Bookbinders, gilt lettering to spines, red topstain to The Last Tycoon; an attractive set. A superb set of first editions by one of the leading authorial voices of the Jazz Age, uniformly bound in an attractive full green morocco binding. These works have inspired numerous adaptations for both film and television, with the most recent being the Academy Award winning film adaptation of The Great Gatsby (2013) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan.

"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.