Nick

Nick imagines the untold backstory of Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, during the years before he moves to West Egg. The novel follows Carraway through his experiences as a soldier in World War I and subsequent time in Paris and New Orleans. The story traces how war and its aftermath shape the man who will eventually narrate Gatsby's tale. From the trenches of France to the underbelly of New Orleans, Nick encounters characters and situations that test his understanding of human nature. This prequel to Fitzgerald's classic novel stands independently while building connections to the character readers know from The Great Gatsby. Through Carraway's pre-war innocence and post-war disillusionment, the novel explores themes of trauma, identity, and the quest for meaning in a world forever changed by violence.

Readers found the book to be a dark, heavy take on Nick Carraway's backstory before The Great Gatsby. Many felt it captured the trauma and disillusionment of WWI veterans. Readers appreciated: - The atmospheric writing style - Detailed descriptions of trench warfare - The psychological exploration of PTSD - How it connects to Carraway's later observations in Gatsby Common criticisms: - Too bleak and depressing - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Little connection to Gatsby's themes - Some found it unnecessary as a prequel Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (150+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Beautifully written but almost unbearably dark" -Goodreads reviewer "The war scenes feel authentic but the story drags afterwards" -Amazon reviewer "Adds depth to Nick's character but feels disconnected from Fitzgerald's work" -LibraryThing reviewer

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald This portrait of the Jazz Age follows a young heir's descent into alcoholism and financial ruin through the glittering world of New York society.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain The narrative reimagines Ernest Hemingway's first marriage and their time in 1920s Paris through the perspective of his wife Hadley Richardson.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Fowler The story chronicles the tumultuous relationship between F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald through the lens of the Jazz Age's most famous wife.

Villa America by Liza Klaussmann This tale captures the lives of Gerald and Sara Murphy, who inspired Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night, as they host artists and writers on the French Riviera during the 1920s.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles The narrative follows a young woman's rise through New York society in 1938 while exploring the social structures and consequences of wealth during the period.

🌟 This prequel was published exactly 96 years after The Great Gatsby entered the public domain on January 1, 2021. 🌟 The author spent significant time in Paris researching the post-WWI environment to accurately capture the city's atmosphere during Nick's time there. 🌟 While F. Scott Fitzgerald's Nick Carraway was based partly on his own experiences, Smith's version draws heavily from actual WWI veterans' accounts and letters. 🌟 The novel took Smith seven years to complete, and he deliberately avoided re-reading The Great Gatsby during the writing process to maintain his fresh perspective. 🌟 Smith chose New Orleans as a key setting because the city's post-WWI culture of jazz, bootlegging, and social upheaval mirrored the themes that would later appear in Gatsby.