The Great Gatsby

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Narrated by: Jake Gyllenhaal

Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Classic, 2014

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan.

After meeting and losing Daisy during the war, Gatsby has made himself fabulously wealthy. Now, he believes that his only way to true happiness is to find his way back into Daisy’s life, and he uses Nick to try to reach her. What happens when the characters’ fantasies are confronted with reality makes for a startling conclusion to this iconic masterpiece.

This special audio edition joins the recent film - as well as many other movie, radio, theater, and even video-game adaptations - as a fitting tribute to the cultural significance of Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age classic, widely regarded as one of the greatest stories ever told.

©1925 Charles Scribner's Sons. Copyright renewed 1953 by Frances Scott Fitzgerald Lanahan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Combining a deeply loved classic like The Great Gatsby with a well-known Hollywood voice like Jake Gyllenhaal’s could create magic or disaster. Could there be competition between the two? Which side would come out stronger? This production strikes a graceful balance, with both big names blending to complement each other. Gyllenhaal’s reserved tone lends polish to Fitzgerald’s text, accentuating the mood of poetry that pervades the novel. His delivery is simultaneously youthful and experienced, aware of the subtleties of the characters and the plot nuances as he infuses them with life. Gyllenhaal controls his performance with style and careful pacing, seemingly keeping as reverent an eye on the novel as Gatsby himself kept on that elusive green light." (AudioFile magazine)

poetic

this story worth reading/listening to over and over. It's a timeless classic the reflects our lives in vivid detail.

Wonderful narration

Jake Gyllenhaal provides a wonderful narration to this great story. The naïveté and innocence come through and he has a compelling voice that draws you in. I listened to the Audible version a dozen times and probably will listen a dozen more. Excellent match between narrator and story. Highly recommended by a friend who I thank profusely for the gift.

Great classic!!!

You must have it. Audio is as good as the reading. Great quality. This is the second book that I get from Audible and I couldn't put it down. Well done!!

True masterpiece

I read the book over 40 years ago and still remember the emotions it stirred. While skeptical of an audiobook of such an amazing story I am thrilled with how well this was produced and narrated by Jake Gullenhaal. I believe F Scott Fitzgerald would have approved.

A Relevant Narrative

I've read this book and now listened to it many times. It is one of my favorite books: setting, characters, and message. It's a story of elite and morality which is very relevant today.

One of the greatest works of American literature

This book puts Fitzgerald with Hemingway, Steinbeck, Twain and those few others at the very pinnacle of their craft to express a part of the unique American experience.

Literally Perfection Revisited

This had been one of my favorite reads from my late teen years, but I decided to revisit it now in my thirties. This book is still as perfect as I remembered it, but now for different reasons. I realized my younger self loved this book because of all the eccentric characters. But reading this again — with my own very real past, future, successes, and failures — this story and its lessons hit me like a ton of bricks, being just as relevant today as they were when this was written.

Kudos to Jake Gyllenhaal for being a fantastic narrator! He really brings Gatsby and Tom to life as the book goes on.

Fantastic performance and content

I had never read this book, and am so impressed by the quality of this writing. The narrative, structure and story are stellar, touching, and unexpected. Combined with Gyllenhaal's brilliant performance, this is a book I will listen to again for sure.

great classic

this book is better and better the more you read it! I highly recommend listening.

A wonderful book that deserves the praise it gets.

I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby. It is about people who do things and don't truly understand why, until perhaps later. It is also about the unforeseen consequences of those actions. In was engrossing, sad, and moving. Jake Gyllenhaal was a wonderful narrator who really captured the voices of the characters.