Overview

In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald produced his third novel, a slim work for which he had high expectations. Despite such hopes, the novel received mixed reviews and lackluster sales. Over the decades, however, the reputation of The Great Gatsby has grown and millions of copies have been sold. One of the bestselling novels of all time, it is also considered one of the most significant achievements in twentieth-century fiction. But what makes Gatsby great? Why do we still care about this book more than eighty-five years after it was published? And how does Gatsby help us make sense of our own lives and times? In Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel, Bob Batchelor explores the birth, life, and enduring influence of The Great Gatsby—from the book’s publication in 1925 through today’s headlines filled with celebrity intrigue, corporate greed, and a roller-coaster economy. A cultural historian, Batchelor explains why and how the novel has become part of the fiber of the American ethos and an important tool in helping readers to better comprehend their lives and the broader world around them. A “biography” of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, this book examines The Great Gatsby’s evolution from a nearly-forgotten 1920s time capsule to a revered cultural touchstone. Batchelor explores how this embodiment of the American Dream has become an iconic part of our national folklore, how the central themes and ideas emerging from the book—from the fulfillment of the American Dream to the role of wealth in society—resonate with contemporary readers who struggle with similar uncertainties today. By exploring the timeless elements of reinvention, romanticism, and relentless pursuit of the unattainable, Batchelor confirms the novel’s status as “The Great American Novel” and, more importantly, explains to students, scholars, and fans alike what makes Gatsby so great.

Full Product Details

Author:   Bob Batchelor
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Dimensions:   Width: 15.90cm , Height: 2.70cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.599kg
ISBN:  

9780810891951

ISBN 10:   0810891956
Pages:   316
Publication Date:   07 November 2013
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Preface I. Gatsby Lives 1. Why Gatsby Matters II. The Faustian Bargain: Creating The Great Gatsby 2. A Literary Star Roaring through the Twenties 3. Breaking Bad: Fitzgerald’s Demise, 1925-1940 III. Gatsby in the American Century 4. Gatsby Reborn, 1941-1963 5. A Grand Illusion, 1964-1980 6. All That Glitters, 1981-2000 7. Gatsby Today, 2001-present IV. Gatsby and the Shifting America Dream 8. The American Dream 9. Wealth and Power 10. Celebrity…An Obsession V. The Enduring Legacy of the Great American Novel 11. Is Romance Timeless? 12. A Hope for Reading and the Quest for the Great American Novel 13. Boom, Bust, Repeat: Power, Greed, and Recklessness in Contemporary America 14. The Great Gatsby (2013): The Film Conclusion: Gatsby is America

Reviews

Batchelor seeks to capitalize on the success of Baz Luhrmann's recent Gatsby film adaption with this exploration of the ways in which F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby has been employed in American culture. The book works best when it sticks to examining concrete uses of the book throughout the years. For example, it features a brief but intriguing discussion of how David Lynch included a passage from the novel in a late 1980s television ad for Calvin Klein. Batchelor does a good job of neatly summarizing the details surrounding the novel's composition and initial reception. Library Journal

Batchelor seeks to capitalize on the success of Baz Luhrmann's recent Gatsby film adaption with this exploration of the ways in which F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby has been employed in American culture. The book works best when it sticks to examining concrete uses of the book throughout the years. For example, it features a brief but intriguing discussion of how David Lynch included a passage from the novel in a late 1980s television ad for Calvin Klein. Batchelor does a good job of neatly summarizing the details surrounding the novel's composition and initial reception. Library Journal In what seems to be the first in the Contemporary American Literature series, Bob Batchelor, James Pedas Professor of Communication and executive director of the James Pedas Communication Center at Thiel College, author or editor of more than 20 books, founding editor of the Popular Culture Studies Journal, and editor of the Contemporary American Literature series, gives a narrative history of the critical and cultural fortunes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and the novel The Great Gatsby from its publication in 1925 until 2013, when a new movie version starring Leonardo DiCaprio was released. The author includes extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index...Batchelor covers the ground well, pointing up the similarities between the 1920s and the 2010s in America-the culture of fame, the gap between rich and poor, and the conspicuous consumption of the rich...There have been numerous book-length studies about the novel, including those by Fitzgerald experts such as Matthew J. Bruccoli, but this is the most up-to-date source on its reputation and relevance for our times. This work is ... could be assigned to the reserve rooms or reserve shelves in high school or college libraries where The Great Gatsby is taught. American Reference Books Annual

Author Information

Bob Batchelor is James Pedas Endowed Chair in Communication and executive director of the James Pedas Communication Center at Thiel College. He is the author or editor of more than 20 books, including: The 1900s; The 1980s; The 2000s; and American Pop: Popular Culture Decade by Decade (4 volumes), Cult Pop Culture (3 volumes) and John Updike: A Critical Biography (2013). He is founding editor of the Popular Culture Studies Journal and editor of the Contemporary American Literature series published by Rowman & Littlefield.

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