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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
One of the greatest writers of the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the definitive novel on the idle rich of the 1920s Jazz Age: The Great Gatsby, first published by Penguin in 1950. Here, his preoccupation with moneyed society takes on a fantastical form, in a playful yet sinister fairy-tale about a family so wealthy they are entirely above the law.
Released by Penguin’s as a ‘taster’ book series given away with The Times and Starbucks in 2007, THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald first published in 1922, which contains themes of wealth and irresponsibility that are more developed in THE GREAT GATSBY.
John T. Unger is an intelligent, sixteen-year-old boy who’s spent his life with his comparatively well-to-do family in Hades, a small town near the Mississippi River. He’s sent to St Midas’s School in Boston where he spends 2 years with boys from much more wealthy and well-to-do families but one boy, the pleasant and aloof Percy Washington, never talks about his parents or background. It is only when John accepts Percy’s invitation to spend the summer holiday at Percy’s house that Percy confides that his father is the richest man in the world and owns a diamond that’s bigger than the Ritz.
Initially sceptical, John soon finds himself in the Montana Rockies. There he’s introduced to a world of wealth and privilege unlike anything that he’s ever known before. Legions of black slaves tender to his every whim in an exquisite chateau filled with the finest jewels, fabrics and wines. But the Washingtons furiously protect their privacy and the secret of their wealth, using anti-aircraft guns to bring down aircraft flying overhead and imprisoning or even killing the pilots.
As John descends into the madness that comes with wealth and power, he falls in love with Percy’s sister Kismine and resolves to tap some of the family’s wealth to enrich himself, only to find himself caught up in an all-too-literal attack against the Washingtons and their life.
Fitzgerald’s short story is an interesting read, not least because some of the themes set out within it are refined in THE GREAT GATSBY (published in 1925). The story deviates into absurdism and at times it was difficult to tell to what extent Fitgerald is satirising the wealthy – not least because the central character of John Unger is not easy to sympathise with, given his venal and petty leanings. The attitude to race is very much of its time and at times the portrayal of the black slaves made me uncomfortable (especially the passivity with which they meet their end).
Because the book’s only one short story, it’s for Fitgerald completists only, although it is worth checking out.
The Verdict:
Released as part of the Penguin ‘taster’ book range in 2007, this short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald incorporates themes of wealth and power that he was later to explore in THE GREAT GATSBY. It’s an interesting read (albeit one that’s very much of its time), but given that the book does consist of just the one short story, it’s not one I’d recommend rushing to buy unless you’re a Fitzgerald completest.
One of the greatest writers of the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the definitive novel on the idle rich of the 1920s Jazz Age: The Great Gatsby, first published by Penguin in 1950. Here, his preoccupation with moneyed society takes on a fantastical form, in a playful yet sinister fairy-tale about a family so wealthy they are entirely above the law.
Released by Penguin’s as a ‘taster’ book series given away with The Times and Starbucks in 2007, THE DIAMOND AS BIG AS THE RITZ is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald first published in 1922, which contains themes of wealth and irresponsibility that are more developed in THE GREAT GATSBY.
John T. Unger is an intelligent, sixteen-year-old boy who’s spent his life with his comparatively well-to-do family in Hades, a small town near the Mississippi River. He’s sent to St Midas’s School in Boston where he spends 2 years with boys from much more wealthy and well-to-do families but one boy, the pleasant and aloof Percy Washington, never talks about his parents or background. It is only when John accepts Percy’s invitation to spend the summer holiday at Percy’s house that Percy confides that his father is the richest man in the world and owns a diamond that’s bigger than the Ritz.
Initially sceptical, John soon finds himself in the Montana Rockies. There he’s introduced to a world of wealth and privilege unlike anything that he’s ever known before. Legions of black slaves tender to his every whim in an exquisite chateau filled with the finest jewels, fabrics and wines. But the Washingtons furiously protect their privacy and the secret of their wealth, using anti-aircraft guns to bring down aircraft flying overhead and imprisoning or even killing the pilots.
As John descends into the madness that comes with wealth and power, he falls in love with Percy’s sister Kismine and resolves to tap some of the family’s wealth to enrich himself, only to find himself caught up in an all-too-literal attack against the Washingtons and their life.
Fitzgerald’s short story is an interesting read, not least because some of the themes set out within it are refined in THE GREAT GATSBY (published in 1925). The story deviates into absurdism and at times it was difficult to tell to what extent Fitgerald is satirising the wealthy – not least because the central character of John Unger is not easy to sympathise with, given his venal and petty leanings. The attitude to race is very much of its time and at times the portrayal of the black slaves made me uncomfortable (especially the passivity with which they meet their end).
Because the book’s only one short story, it’s for Fitgerald completists only, although it is worth checking out.
The Verdict:
Released as part of the Penguin ‘taster’ book range in 2007, this short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald incorporates themes of wealth and power that he was later to explore in THE GREAT GATSBY. It’s an interesting read (albeit one that’s very much of its time), but given that the book does consist of just the one short story, it’s not one I’d recommend rushing to buy unless you’re a Fitzgerald completest.
