Jay Gatsby is an enigma. Young, attractive, and incredibly wealthy, he’s notorious in social circles for the decadent parties he hosts at his New York estate. He plays the role of the host perfectly, mingling and chatting with the guests, yet always seems strangely aloof, and of his mysterious past and fabulous wealth he gives no clues.

Nobody is quite sure what to make of him. But, as Gatsby confesses to his acquaintance Nick Carraway, it’s all a façade – everything is in the hope of catching a glimpse of his former lover: the gorgeous socialite Daisy Buchanan. And the knowledge that she is now married does nothing but fuel his obsession further.

The book has been adapted into an intriguing movie format that has contributed to its popularity. The Great Gatsby has come to be recognized as one of the finest American novels of the 20th century for its critical examination of class, wealth, and the American Dream.