F. Scott Fitzgerald’s second novel is a cautionary tale of reckless ambition and squandered talent set amid the glitter of Jazz-Age New York. The novel tells the story of Anthony Patch (a 1920s socialite and presumptive heir to a tycoon's fortune), the relationship with his wife Gloria, his service in the army, and alcoholism. At once a morality tale, a meditation on love, money and decadence, and a social document, the novel provides an excellent portrait of the Eastern elite as the Jazz Age begins its ascent, engulfing all classes into what will soon be known as Café Society. As with his other novels, it is a brilliant character study and an early account of the complexities of marriage and intimacy, believed to be largely based on Fitzgerald's relationship and marriage with Zelda Fitzgerald.
Download and start listening now!
"It's not the best Fitzgerald book I've read, but it's pretty damn amazing. It's so raw, so real. You feel sympathy through each character during Anthony's alcoholism and the imperfections between Gloria and Anthony's relationship. The novel has such beautiful diction. "
— Jessica (5 out of 5 stars)
“The Jazz Age chronicler’s first great novel.”
— Times (London)“No one has written more elegiacally about America than F. Scott Fitzgerald.”
— Guardian (London)“If Francis Scott Fitzgerald had not existed, it would have been necessary to invent him.”
— Sunday Times (London)" First book I read on the Kindle, not sure if that made it feel longer, but this book was a slow, often dull read. "
— Ruthie, 2/1/2014" I picked this up because I remember liking the Great Gatsby in high school. Ugh. I didn't care about a single one of these characters until the end. I had to force myself to finish reading it, although the last line was mildly redeeming. "
— Aunnalea, 1/4/2014" I always start this book and never finish it, this time I'm finishing it dammit! "
— Brittany, 12/22/2013" Oh this book - Fitzgerald's writing style is so easy to get into, it fits like a glove - everyone experiences that with Gatsby, the way the book kind of slips on you and every sentence reads well and you feel a part of the time the book captures. This book does that too, and the characters grab your attention just the same - my only problem lies with the story, I guess. I just couldn't enjoy reading about Anythony Patch because his view on life is so awful, and I wanted it to change throughout the whole novel. He is the epitome of those who expect things handed to them, and that is so not me it made me want to scream at times. You get the feeling we are supposed to be half-rooting for him, but often I simply felt sorry for Gloria Gilbert, and exasperated at why Anthony Patch should be the way he is. I think Fitzgerald really tried to say something with this novel - about society, about life, about values - but man, the characters he chose to get that across are not as likeable as I wanted them to be. It made me miss Nick from Gatsby, or even Gatsby himself. There was an aloofness about Gatsby that just wasn't there with Anthony, and surprisingly I think that's what was missing for me. Anthony Patch as a character just aggravated me a lot. Still, I enjoyed this book immensely. My issues with the main character aside I think it's important to note there are two main characters of this novel: anthony and gloria, and gloria is awesome. She's just interesting to read and embodies the time period well. The book did a good job of showing the ups and downs of the first few years of a first marriage, and I think it did so well as to be uncomfortable at times. Sometimes I let the characters' feelings intrude upon me and my own mood, and that just shows how powerful a writer Fitzgerald is. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the time period, or good writing. A book that will make you think and feel, for sure. If you're like me you'll spend a good deal of time just re-reading sentences for their unbelievable craft. Fitzgerald really is great. Overall, definitely a good book. Definitely worth the read :D "
— Colleen, 12/18/2013" The characters are wild. It was depressing & crazy. But I enjoyed it. "
— Taylor, 12/13/2013" And they were...beautiful and damned. "
— Abby, 12/13/2013" interesting point of view from lazy, spoiled people :) "
— Jessica, 12/7/2013" I should read this again; I remember being quite fond of it, as I am everything Fitzgerald wrote. "
— Toby, 12/7/2013" My favorite Fitzgerald book - it is a classic display of decadence meeting demise... "
— Jolene, 11/25/2013" It's like reading a train wreck and you can't put it down. "
— Matthew, 11/5/2013" Not Fitzgerald's best story but I always love his writing. "
— Ben, 9/30/2013" Kind of epic as a fall (and rise?). Better than I recalled it to be. "
— Salvatore, 5/12/2013" This is my favorite of Fitzgerald's. GREAT story, great characters, excellent representation of the era. I think this book is severely under-rated. "
— Nancy, 2/15/2013" I started reading this book years ago and just finished it. Not because I didn't like it, I just forgot about it for a while. I love F. Scott Fitzgerald's books and characters. This book is beautiful to read, but his story, as usual, is sad. "
— Natalie, 2/20/2012" Beautiful prose. Unsympathetic characters. Interesting conversations. Need I say beautiful prose again. It was the writing that kept me going through the book. And I'd read it again for the writing. "
— Wando, 9/18/2011" I didn't enjoy it and eventually gave up about half way through. It was just boring. I should have known when the introduction said it wasn't a good book - they were right! I guess he got better later in his career. "
— Stan, 8/28/2011" Although the book is a little slow in spots, it marks an important check point for one of the 20th centuries' most skilled writers. Also interesting is the amount of prophesy that the book holds for Fitzgerald's own life. "
— Christopher, 8/15/2011" terrible story, characters were spoiled and I hated them close to every step of the way. "
— Jose-rodrigo, 7/8/2011" I LOVE Fitzgerald's writing style...every word of it seems so beautiful. The story dragged and seemed a bit pointless at times. I got really interested about 100 pages in...and then it slowed down again. Still, worth it for Fitzgerald's style. "
— Laura, 5/11/2011" I LOVE Fitzgerald's writing style...every word of it seems so beautiful. The story dragged and seemed a bit pointless at times. I got really interested about 100 pages in...and then it slowed down again. Still, worth it for Fitzgerald's style. "
— Laura, 5/11/2011" I LOVE Fitzgerald's writing style...every word of it seems so beautiful. The story dragged and seemed a bit pointless at times. I got really interested about 100 pages in...and then it slowed down again. Still, worth it for Fitzgerald's style. "
— Laura, 5/11/2011" No likable or redeemable characters at all "
— Holly, 5/3/2011" No likable or redeemable characters at all "
— Holly, 5/3/2011" No likable or redeemable characters at all "
— Holly, 5/3/2011" I'm not a fan of pre-War American social commentaries, and I found this one exceptionally tedious. "
— Shelley, 4/23/2011" I'm not a fan of pre-War American social commentaries, and I found this one exceptionally tedious. "
— Shelley, 4/23/2011" I'm not a fan of pre-War American social commentaries, and I found this one exceptionally tedious. "
— Shelley, 4/23/2011" This might be my favorite book. "
— Lindsey, 4/21/2011" This might be my favorite book. "
— Lindsey, 4/21/2011" This might be my favorite book. "
— Lindsey, 4/21/2011" Fitzgerald is one of the greatest writers to have ever lived, and I love and admire all of his books. "
— Mary, 3/31/2011" Fitzgerald is one of the greatest writers to have ever lived, and I love and admire all of his books. "
— Mary, 3/31/2011" Fitzgerald is one of the greatest writers to have ever lived, and I love and admire all of his books. "
— Mary, 3/31/2011" It's not the best Fitzgerald book I've read, but it's pretty damn amazing. It's so raw, so real. You feel sympathy through each character during Anthony's alcoholism and the imperfections between Gloria and Anthony's relationship. The novel has such beautiful diction. "
— Jessica, 3/24/2011" It's not the best Fitzgerald book I've read, but it's pretty damn amazing. It's so raw, so real. You feel sympathy through each character during Anthony's alcoholism and the imperfections between Gloria and Anthony's relationship. The novel has such beautiful diction. "
— Jessica, 3/24/2011" Could NOT stand Anthony to save my life. The. End. "
— Stephanie, 3/23/2011" Could NOT stand Anthony to save my life. The. End. "
— Stephanie, 3/23/2011" Could NOT stand Anthony to save my life. The. End. "
— Stephanie, 3/23/2011" I hated all of these people. "
— Jennell, 3/22/2011" I hated all of these people. "
— Jennell, 3/22/2011" I hated all of these people. "
— Jennell, 3/22/2011" I love Fitzgerald because your'e basically reading smut cleverly disguised as a classic :) "
— Kelli, 3/21/2011" I love Fitzgerald because your'e basically reading smut cleverly disguised as a classic :) "
— Kelli, 3/21/2011" I love Fitzgerald because your'e basically reading smut cleverly disguised as a classic :) "
— Kelli, 3/21/2011" This is my favorite of all Fitzgerald books. It is, in my opinion, his best. "
— Cheryl, 3/19/2011" This is my favorite of all Fitzgerald books. It is, in my opinion, his best. "
— Cheryl, 3/19/2011" This is my favorite of all Fitzgerald books. It is, in my opinion, his best. "
— Cheryl, 3/19/2011" Has some great prose and foreshadowing of his impeccable style... But ultimately was uninspired. The characters were tiresome and unsympathetic, and the jarring book changes did nothing for the flow or development of the characters. "
— Nate, 3/14/2011" Has some great prose and foreshadowing of his impeccable style... But ultimately was uninspired. The characters were tiresome and unsympathetic, and the jarring book changes did nothing for the flow or development of the characters. "
— Nate, 3/14/2011" Has some great prose and foreshadowing of his impeccable style... But ultimately was uninspired. The characters were tiresome and unsympathetic, and the jarring book changes did nothing for the flow or development of the characters. "
— Nate, 3/14/2011F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and educated at Princeton, where he was a leader in theatrical and literary activities. He began writing his first novel, This Side of Paradise, while serving in the army. Its publication in 1920 established him as the spokesman for the Jazz Age. His major novels include The Beautiful and Damned, The Great Gatsby, and Tender Is the Night.
Don Hagen has been behind the microphone since fifth grade. He is a nine-time winner of the Peer Award for narration/voice-over and twice winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also been heard in radio and television commercials and documentaries. In addition to his freelance voice work, he is a member of the audiobook narration team at the Library of Congress.