Now, Listen Up To One Of The Greats

Make no mistake, F.Scott Fitzgerald knew how to spin a yarn    

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Audio books are becoming more popular by the day thanks to MP3 technology. Many traditional book publishers are now aware of the growing audio book market and are starting to release a range of audio book titles. And, no wonder, as the audio books market is estimated to be worth in excess of 900 million dollars in 2008.

The Great Gatsby, one of the classic novels of the 20th century is now available on audio book format. But, the interesting thing is that there are several versions available by different publishers. And, at different price levels. Furthermore there is also a workbook available in audio books format which should be of great benefit to students.

"Another version published by Blackstone Audio Inc, is 5 hours long and is narrated by Anthony Heald (of Silence of the Lambs fame). At the time of writing, this audio book sells for $14.95. The publisher's synopsis is as follows:

"'It expresses one phase of the great grotesque spectacle of our American scene. It is humor, irony, ribaldry, pathos and loveliness. A curious book, a mystical, glamorous story of today. It takes a deeper cut at life than hitherto has been essayed by Mr. Fitzgerald.' New York Times, April 1925

Jay Gatsby is still in love with Daisy, whom he met during the war when he was penniless. Having made himself wealthy through illegal means, he now lives in a mansion across the bay from the home of Daisy Buchanan, who has since married for money. Holding on to his illusion of Daisy as perfect, he seeks to impress her with his wealth, and uses his new neighbor, Nick Carraway, (our narrator), to reach her.

Daisy's wealthy but boring husband is cheating on her. When his mistress is killed in an accident caused by Daisy, Gatsby covers for her and takes the blame. The result is a murder and an ending which reveals the failure of money to buy love or happiness.

Fitzgerald's elegantly simple work captures the spirit of the Jazz Age and embodies America's obsessions with wealth, power, and the promise of new beginnings."

A third audio book version is published by Harper Collins US, is 7 hours long and is narrated by Tim Robbins the Holywood actor.

The publisher's synopsis is as follows:
"The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrait of the Jazz Age in all its decadence and excess, is, as editor Maxwell Perkins praised it in 1924, "a wonder." It remains one of the most widely read, translated, admired, imitated and studied twentieth-century works of American fiction.

This deceptively simple work, Fitzgerald's best known, was hailed by critics as capturing the spirit of the generation. In Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald embodies some of America's strongest obsessions: wealth, power, greed, and the promise of new beginnings.

The recording includes a selection of letters written by Fitzgerald to his editor, Maxwell Perkins, his agent, Harold Ober, and friends and associates, including Willa Cather, H.L. Mencken, John Peale Bishop and Gertrude Stein."

In conclusion, the student of The Great Gatsby now has a choice of audio book publishers to choose from, with well known narrators, and at price levels to suit all pockets. In addition, the audio workbook by Hachette Audio is also well worth considering.