To celebrate the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby” on Thursday, a handful of F. Scott Fitzgerald enthusiasts will read the entire novel aloud at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.
Published on April 10, 1925, “Gatsby” is the St. Paul native’s best-known work and widely regarded as one of the greatest novels of all time.
Scheduled to run from 1 to 7:30 p.m., the live reading is one of several events planned by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library commemorating “Gatsby’s” centennial in its author’s hometown that will “revisit the book and consider how its themes apply today,” the organization’s website says.
Upstairs in the History Center’s Gale Family Library, several Fitzgerald-related items from the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society are on display.
Later on that evening, Storyline Books will host a “Gatsby”-themed cocktail party at 1881 Eating House in Union Depot. Celtic Junction in Midway will host a “Gatsby Speakeasy Dance” on Friday night, complete with a live jazz band.
The Friends’ series of “Gatsby” events will continue throughout the rest of the year and include these events:
April 15: A book club discussion of “The Great Gatsby – A Graphic Novel Adaptation” by Katherine Woodman Maynard at Urban Growler in St. Paul.
May 1 to May 31: Books from Minnesota women authors of the 1920s will be on display at George Latimer Central Library in St. Paul.
Sept. 13 to March 22, 2026: “Gatsby at 100,” an exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in Minneapolis.
Sept. 19 to Sept. 22: “The Last Flapper,” a one-woman show by William Luce based on the writings of Zelda Fitzgerald, performed by Monette Magrath at Landmark Center in St. Paul.
Nov. 9: “Teaching The Great Gatsby,” an online panel discussion with teachers from around the United States.
A full schedule of events can be found on the Friends website at thefriends.org/fitzgerald.
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