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The Great Gatsby  By  cover art

The Great Gatsby

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Jake Gyllenhaal
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Editorial review


By Madeline Anthony, Audible Editor

HOW THE GREAT GATSBY BECAME THE QUINTESSENTIAL JAZZ AGE NOVEL

If you ever find yourself pondering the correlation between the greatness of a work and it’s commercial success (or lack there of), and whether or not the first has anything to do with the latter, here’s a case study to wrap your mind around—F. Scott Fitzgerald died thinking that his third novel, The Great Gatsby, was a dismal failure and that his body of work would soon be forgotten.

While the novel sold only 20,000 copies during Fitzgerald’s lifetime, The Great Gatsby stood the test of time and is now widely considered Great American Novel canon. Largely seen as a literary masterpiece, the novel has made its way into high school and college curriculum as required reading, inspired multiple critically acclaimed films, and set the stage for creative spin-offs set in the world of Gatsby (such as Daisy, a reimagined take on the novel from the perspective of Daisy Buchanan herself), and has generally inserted itself into American vernacular.

There are other authors and novels with similar stories; for instance, Moby Dick was a critical and commercial flop until it finally gained popularity 30 years after author Herman Melville passed. Sometimes an author is ahead of his or her time, and sometimes chance works in mysterious ways. In Fitzgerald’s case, copies of Gatsby were handed out freely to soldiers during World War II. The renewed interest in the book breathed new life into it, and from that moment on, Gatsby soared.

Today, the nostalgia conjured by the Roaring 20s is in a kind of renaissance. Or maybe, the truth is that a sort of longing for the romanticism of this era never really died. In lower Manhattan, guests can venture into The Gatsby Experience for instance, which is an interactive theatre of sorts equipped with a speakeasy tour and live performance. The Great Gatsby, a new musical, is running off-Broadway, and a general appreciation of not only the classic novel but also the time in which the novel was set is alive and well. Don’t we all want to live in a time where the champagne flows, and life, for a brief moment at least, seemed easy?

Continue reading Madeline's review >

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Classic, 2014

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan.

After meeting and losing Daisy during the war, Gatsby has made himself fabulously wealthy. Now, he believes that his only way to true happiness is to find his way back into Daisy’s life, and he uses Nick to try to reach her. What happens when the characters’ fantasies are confronted with reality makes for a startling conclusion to this iconic masterpiece.

This special audio edition joins the recent film - as well as many other movie, radio, theater, and even video-game adaptations - as a fitting tribute to the cultural significance of Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age classic, widely regarded as one of the greatest stories ever told.

©1925 Charles Scribner's Sons. Copyright renewed 1953 by Frances Scott Fitzgerald Lanahan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Combining a deeply loved classic like The Great Gatsby with a well-known Hollywood voice like Jake Gyllenhaal’s could create magic or disaster. Could there be competition between the two? Which side would come out stronger? This production strikes a graceful balance, with both big names blending to complement each other. Gyllenhaal’s reserved tone lends polish to Fitzgerald’s text, accentuating the mood of poetry that pervades the novel. His delivery is simultaneously youthful and experienced, aware of the subtleties of the characters and the plot nuances as he infuses them with life. Gyllenhaal controls his performance with style and careful pacing, seemingly keeping as reverent an eye on the novel as Gatsby himself kept on that elusive green light." (AudioFile magazine)

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What listeners say about The Great Gatsby

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A Lovely Read

“Poor Son of a Bitch”

The line above struck me and I think this is the underline meaning of the entire book. Gatsby was a poor man with riches. And, in the end, none of the things he strived for mattered at all.

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Wow this is awesome

Jake gyllenhall did an amazing job. An American classic . Loved it and the narration. Thank you

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Cool

Jake Gyllenhaal is a great narrator. Okay story but very cool speaking. I would recommend

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I can't believe I hadn't read this sooner

This is a classic American novel that I can't believe I hadn't read earlier. Having just finished it, I can see why it is a classic. Great story that made me feel like I was living the lifestyle of the 1920s that the author described so vividly. Jake Gyllenhall did a fabulous job narrating and the tone and cadence of his voice made me want more and more. My only regreat was that I finished it too quickly.

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Great Book - Great Performance

What made the experience of listening to The Great Gatsby the most enjoyable?

Jake Gyllenhall was absolutely fantastic with this F. Scott Fitzgerald classic. I really enjoyed my whole experience listening to this one!

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Running to catch up with what does not exist

What made the experience of listening to The Great Gatsby the most enjoyable?

Jake Gyllenhaal had the perfect tone of voice and intonations for reading this story. He is convincing as Nick Carraway's first person narrator. I would give him five stars except that there are one or two words, like "coupe" that Gyllenhaal reads as two-syllabled when it's only one.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Great Gatsby?

This is a classic and Nick Carraway tells us in the end why he's telling Gatsby's story: Gatsy had been chasing Daisy as he believed her to be but we see that even in the story she was much more flawed and never could have offered what Gatsby had fallen for. Sadly, The Great Gatsby is the story of chasing an elusive rainbow that only exists in the eyes of a lover.

Have you listened to any of Jake Gyllenhaal’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard any of Jake Gyllenhaal's other readings, but will seek out more.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I've heard this reading at least twice and really enjoyed it and I'm glad it's part of my collection because, like an old record, I think this will be an audiobook I'll keep dusting off.

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Classic Brought to Life

I had read The Great Gatsby before, but Jake Gyllenhall's narration really brought the book to life for me and showed what a great book it actually is. It's so well-written - little turns of phrase that just capture the imagination and almost put you in the scene. Definitely worth a listen!

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Great Story, OK Narration

I'd read this book about fifteen years ago and, truth be told, I'd forgotten a lot of what the story was about. But that ending had stuck in my head. I tend to think that I probably didn't recognize this book for the work of art that it is. With age and experience, I can see the genius of Fitzgerald and recognize the nuances that I think I missed in my younger days. I bought this audiobook for two reasons (1) the movie is coming out soon and I wanted a refresher on the story; and, (2) It's narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal. I wasn't overly impressed by Jake Gyllenhaal's narration. I thought it was adequate but he didn't bring that magic to the story that great narrators do i.e. Colin Firth in The End of the Affair. If you've never read this book, I'd say listen to this audiobook. It's well worth the listen even if the narration isn't out of the park.

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Great way to revisit this classic!

Like others, with the new movie coming, and the re-release by narrator Jake Gyllenhaal, I decided to use a credit and re-"read" this classic that I hadn't read since forced to in high school. It was extremely enjoyable and I plowed right through it. I had forgotten what a compelling tale this was and Gyllenhaal's narration only added to my pleasure. Highly recommend!

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Great book and wonderful narration!

What made the experience of listening to The Great Gatsby the most enjoyable?

I knew the story would be wonderful as I've read it several times but Gyllenhaal's narration was wonderful! Very much worth the download.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Great Gatsby?

The scene of Myrtle's death and her husband's reaction stands out to me the most. It was beautifully written, subtle but powerful.

Have you listened to any of Jake Gyllenhaal’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to any but I plan to now!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it all in one sitting. I couldn't turn it off!

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