American Dreamer: Who Was Jay Gatsby?
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Narrated by:
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Joe Nocera
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By:
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Blanchard House
About this listen
Was a real life 1920s crook the inspiration for one of the world's most iconic fictional characters, “The Great Gatsby”?
Just before the small-time bootlegger Max Gerlach died, he tried to reveal his secret: he was the inspiration for the mysterious Jay Gatsby. It’s a nice story, but was he telling the truth? Veteran reporter Joe Nocera and producer Poppy Damon investigate this century-old literary mystery and uncover untold secrets about the Great American Novel.
Content Warning:
The Great Gatsby is a book of its time so you will hear racist and anti-Semitic themes and language that some listeners might find offensive. There will also be references to alcohol and drug abuse, depictions of violence and reference to suicide.
Episode 1: Old sport
It’s July 1923 and a scrawled note from a local bootlegger gives celebrity author F Scott Fitzgerald a bright idea… Joe Nocera begins his quest investigating just who this Max Gerlach really was.
Episode 2: Then came the war
Jay Gatsby tells everyone he’s a military man, a war hero. Max Gerlach gives the same impression. But is Gerlach the man he says he is?
Episode 3: Some big bootlegger
Joe explores the shady world of bootlegging and the mob kingpin who bridges fact and fiction.
Episode 4: The golden girl
For many The Great Gatsby is first and foremost a love story. Joe goes looking for Max Gerlach’s “golden girl”. He finds a marriage – but all is not as it seems.
Episode 5: I love you now – isn’t that enough?
Fun fact: most of the ‘Great American Novel’ was written in France. What can the Fitzgeralds’ tempestuous stint on the Riviera reveal about Jay Gatsby and the man who may have inspired him?
Episode 6: He believed in the green light
Joe digs into how Max’s American Dream went sour. Meanwhile, F Scott Fitzgerald’s problems have only just begun.
Episode 7: Forty acres
Joe is forced to ask if he's had the wrong idea all along as he probes the investigation's biggest curveball.
Episode 8: Ceaselessly into the past
As Joe concludes his investigation, they follow every lead to try and get to the bottom of Max and Scott’s relationship. Just how much of Max Gerlach wound up in “The Great Gatsby”?
©2024 Blanchard House (P)2024 Audible Ltd.
American Dreamer: Who Was Jay Gatsby
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What listeners say about American Dreamer: Who Was Jay Gatsby?
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- H
- 08-04-24
Interesting view of a great book
I love the Great Gatsby, I haven’t read it in a while, this gave an interesting view about the characters and author.
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- E. Standard
- 25-04-24
Death defying feats of scholarly sleuthing!
this material was so delightfully interesting. I couldn’t resist, listening to the whole thing again from the beginning
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- Penny the story reader
- 05-08-24
The most mysterious man
I’m a big Gatsby fan, and I’ll be on his side forever in the story of lost love. This was an incredible story of the hunt for the real Jay Gatsby. I couldn’t stop listening. I’d highly recommend it. Fitzgerald collected people and their stories, hear how he wrote them into his novels and how he found Gatsby in the time of prohibition.
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- Gill50
- 25-09-24
Fascinating
A really interesting listen The presenters worked well together and I would love to hear more from them both
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- Annabelle
- 13-06-24
Fascinating
Fascinating premise, great context and facts. Made me want to read The Great Gatsby all over again.
Perhaps drawn out a little
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- Lulu
- 30-11-24
Roaring Mystery
Incredibly fascinating podcast detailing the potential real life Jay Gatsby. It explores all routes and possibilities. Such great finds!
I love how it opens the world of not only The Great Gatsby, but of Fitzgerald’s life and influences.
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- Louise Newton
- 25-11-24
Fascinating
I really enjoyed this. Interesting to listen to and to learn more about the author, book and historical details of life in that era.
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- h3559
- 26-10-24
I never knew...
This was an amazing podcast. I've never heard of the broadcaster or anyone else involved in making it, but I now have listened to the other podcast on audible made by this guy, Joe Nocera and it's amazing. he's very good writer. I totally recommend this.
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- TheZee
- 02-09-24
Absolutely riveting!
This podcast is a gem of a rollercoaster. I knew a little about F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby, however, this total education of this podcast really pleases me.
Creativity really unearths the myths and fabrications of ideologies. Loved every minute of this. I completely recommend this.
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- Liz
- 17-09-24
Infectious
I love the way Joe and Poppy catch the listener with their infectious desire to know more.
I could listen to them over and over again!
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