It was one of those rare smiles that carried a quality of eternal reassurance, something you may encounter in life only four or five times. Jay Gatsby is the man who has everything. But one thing will always remain out of his reach. Everyone who matters is seen at his glittering parties. Day and night, his mansion on Long Island buzzes with bright, young people drinking, dancing, and debating his mysterious character. For Gatsby—young, handsome, fabulously wealthy—seems always to be alone in a crowd, observing and waiting, though no one knows for what. Beneath the shimmering surface of his life lies a secret: a silent longing that can never be fulfilled. And soon, this destructive obsession will force his world to unravel. The Penguin English Library offers collectible editions of the finest fiction in the English language, from the eighteenth century to the end of World War II.