F Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby Folio Society

--- "Jay believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us."

This is the Folio Society edition of The Great Gatsby. The Folio Society continues to produce very beautiful edition of classics that simply take my breath away. The quality is top notch, and the illustrations are often splendidly rendered. So if there is a classic that you really like, then get a Folio Society edition, which may be more expensive but it will certainly outlast the economical paperbacks made of acidic paper that yellows very quickly, and it will give you a sense of bliss.


This 2013 edition is introduced by Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer winning critic, with a personal note added by Francis Coppola. The illustrations are done by Sam Connelly. The result is a very nice copy of the American classic and a very nice addition to the Great Gatsby Gala.

This title page reads like an exciting movie cast, but for producing beautiful books.

"He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling." I can look at this for hours. It neatly captures Jay Gatsby's longing for Daisy. The green light is the beacon that guided Jay's life, and specifically towards Daisy. We can call it an obsession or an aspiration. It is  just beautiful.

"Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand." This is Myrtle, Tom's mistress, and perhaps the most tragic character after Jay. She was knocked down  and killed by Daisy; Jay took the blame and was killed by George, Myrtle's husband.

"My eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes."



"Then the valley of ashes opened out on both sides of us..."



"With his hands still in his coat pockets he stalked by me into the hall...and disappeared into the living room."



"With every word she was drawing further and further into herself...only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away."



With little ripples that were hardly the shadows of waves, the laden mattress moved irregularly down the pool."