Gatsby The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

 Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel by Bob Batchelor

This book was published in 2014 (by Rowman & Littlefield, I have to shamelessly announce because they also published my first book), so a lot of it focuses on The Great Gatsby 2013 movie, which is... not my favorite, but I'll address the movie specifically later.

But this book isn't about the movie - it puts Gatsby in context throughout history, academia, and more. It starts by covering Fitzgerald's life and the process of writing this classic, and then covers eras as the book went in and out of popularity. Batchelor relates the book to the American Dream in different iterations, dives into the romantic aspect, and addresses greed.

Like the novel itself, this is a book I could come back to time and time again and find something new. I already maxed out the library holds (on my card and my son's!) just to spend enough time with it for an initial read. It could be a textbook for a course studying the cultural context of Gatsby... and you know I'd take that class!

Here's the official blurb from the publisher, which explains it more concisely than I can:

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.