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The Almost Not Great Gatsby

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Manage episode 507301161 series 3606523
Content provided by Rare Book Chat, Jeremy O'Connor, and Michael DiRuggiero. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Rare Book Chat, Jeremy O'Connor, and Michael DiRuggiero or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In 1940, the year of Fitzgerald’s death, there were only 7 copies of The Great Gatsby sold. Fitzgerald complained to both Zelda and Max Perkins that he was a forgotten man and that clearly there was no demand for his book. He was crushed, and died thinking Gatsby was a failure. Then, a year later 155,000 copies were printed…. What happened?

We dive in into the strange afterlife of The Great Gatsby, trace Fitzgerald’s feelings about his masterpiece through inscribed copies, and compare it to the fates of other books – Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Fortnight in September – published around the same time.

Is a classic destined to be a classic or does it need a healthy dose of luck? As always, email us and let us know what you think at [email protected]

Enjoy the episode!

  continue reading

20 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 507301161 series 3606523
Content provided by Rare Book Chat, Jeremy O'Connor, and Michael DiRuggiero. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Rare Book Chat, Jeremy O'Connor, and Michael DiRuggiero or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In 1940, the year of Fitzgerald’s death, there were only 7 copies of The Great Gatsby sold. Fitzgerald complained to both Zelda and Max Perkins that he was a forgotten man and that clearly there was no demand for his book. He was crushed, and died thinking Gatsby was a failure. Then, a year later 155,000 copies were printed…. What happened?

We dive in into the strange afterlife of The Great Gatsby, trace Fitzgerald’s feelings about his masterpiece through inscribed copies, and compare it to the fates of other books – Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Fortnight in September – published around the same time.

Is a classic destined to be a classic or does it need a healthy dose of luck? As always, email us and let us know what you think at [email protected]

Enjoy the episode!

  continue reading

20 episodes

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