-September 24, 1896- December 21, 1940
-American author of novels and short stories
-Regarded as one of the greatest American authors of the 20th century
-Considered a member of the "Lost Generation" of the1920's
-Finished4 novels: "This Side of Paradise", "The Beautiful and Damned", "Tender is the Night", and "The Great Gatsby"

-Written in 1925
-Fitzgerald was inspired by parties he attended when he visited Long Island's North Shore
-Fitzgerald wanted to produce, "something new-something extraordinary and beautiful and simple"
-Other titles thought of for the book were "Timalchio in West Egg" and "Road to West Egg"

-When published in 1925 the novel relieved mixed reviews
-Sold poorly with only 20,000 copies first year
-Fitzgerald died believing he was a failure writing the novel
-The Great Gatsby did not get popular and widely known until after his death and his now used in education and read all over the world

-Decadence
-Idealism
-Resistance to Change
-Social upheaval
-Excess

-Prohibition is the legal act of manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages
-A bootlegger is a person who creates liquor
-A flapper was a woman in the 1920's who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and wore a lot of make up
-The term "nouveau riche" means people who have recently acquired wealth, those perceived as ostentatious or lacking in good taste

-Set of ideals where freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work