Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and the Invention of The Great Gatsby

Description

Since its publication in 1925, The Great Gatsby has become one of the world's best-loved books. CARELESS PEOPLE tells the true story behind F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, exploring in newly rich detail its relation to the extravagant, scandalous, and chaotic world in which the author lived. With wit and insight, Sarah Churchwell traces the genesis of a masterpiece, mapping where fiction comes from, and how it takes shape in the mind of a genius. CARELESS PEOPLE tells the extraordinary tale of how F. Scott Fitzgerald created a classic and in the process discovered modern America.

Sarah Churchwell is Professor of American Literature and Public Understanding of the Humanities at the University of East Anglia. She reviews widely.

A treasury of new material. Churchwell adds considerably to our understanding of the early 1920s, and how life for Fitzgerald played into the development of his art . . . Engaging deeply with the facts on the ground, the richly chaotic matrix that was Fitzgerald's life, Sarah Churchwell's Careless People takes us back there - Literary Review - Jay Parini A suggestive, almost musical evocation of the spirit of the time - London Review of Books - Thomas Powers The wonder of Careless People . . . is that it rewinds the years and allows the reader to appreciate again just how well Fitzgerald reflected his times - Book of the Week - Sunday Telegraph - Nicholas Blincoe investigates subject after subject with subtle intelligence . . . you find yourself caught up in the excitement of her search - Book of the Week - Sunday Telegraph - John Carey A literary spree, bursting with recherch? detail, high spirits and the desperate frisson of the jazz age - Observer - Robert McCrum A treasury of new material. Churchwell adds considerably to our understanding of the early 1920s, and how life for Fitzgerald played into the development of his art . . . Engaging deeply with the facts on the ground, the richly chaotic matrix that was Fitzgerald's life, Sarah Churchwell's Careless People takes us back there - Literary Review - Jay Parini A suggestive, almost musical evocation of the spirit of the time - London Review of Books - Thomas Powers The wonder of Careless People . . . is that it rewinds the years and allows the reader to appreciate again just how well Fitzgerald reflected his times - Book of the Week - Sunday Telegraph - Nicholas Blincoe