American Dreamer: Who was Jay Gatsby?

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.

Credits

Writer, Host: Joe Nocera

Co-Writer, Producer: Poppy Damon

Inspired by the book F Scott Fitzgerald at Work: The Making of ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Horst H. Kruse

Original research and fact checking: Alan Sargeant.

Original Music and Sound Engineering: Daniel Lloyd-Evans, Louis Nanke-Mannell, Toby Matimong

Sound Designer: Volkan Kiziltug and Daniel Lloyd-Evans

Mix Engineering: Volkan Kiziltug

Managing Producer: Amica Sciortino Nowlan

Creative Director: Rosie Pye

Executive Producer: Laurence Grissell

Voice actors: Nathan Adams Stark, Madeleine Potter, Colin Stinton and Elise Kibler