Tyke or kike: Censorship in the Great Gatsbty

Tyke or kike: Censorship in the Great Gatsbty

I have recently found out that in certain versions of The Great Gatsby the word "kike" is edited to read "tyke". Well, according with the Oxford (or Oggsford) Dictionary:


kike: informal offensive a Jewish person.


tyke:  informal a small child

 Why did the original word was replaced? The following extract from Professor James L. W. West III's book "Making the Archives Talk" explains the motivations for this act of political correctness.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's writings offer some examples of nervous editing. In one of the most memorable scenes in The Great Gatsby, for example, Nick Carraway is at a party in the apartment on West 158th Street that Tom Buchanan maintains for his trysts with Myrtle Wilson. Tom and Myrtle have invited some friends to come in for drinks. Nick finds himself talking with Myrtle’s sister, whose name is Catherine. This is a coarse crowd, not squeamish about what they say in conversation. Catherine brings up the liaison between Myrtle and Tom: “Neither of them can stand the person they’re married to,” she says in a loud voice. Mrs McKee, a neighbour from elsewhere in the building, overhears the remark and, in the 1925 Scribners first edition, reveals how she might herself have fallen into a bad marriage: "“I almost made a mistake, too,’ she declared vigorously. ‘I almost married a little kyke who’d been after me for years. I knew he was below me. Everybody kept saying to me: “Lucille, that mans ’way below you!” But if I hadn’t met Chester, he’d of got me sure’” (41).

Most editions of The Great Gatsby since 1925 print either “kyke,” Fitzgerald’s spelling from the manuscript, or the more commonly found “kike.” But within the first American paperback edition (published initially by Bantam Books in November 1945, five years after Fitzgerald’s death), one finds a plate variant on page 42. The variant occurs between the third impression of March 1946 and the fourth of March 1951. The word “kyke” becomes “guy.” As with Mencken’s revisions for the 1946 Treatise on the Gods, one notes the date and wonders whether the revelations about the Nazi death camps and, more generally, public awareness of the suffering of European Jews during World War II might have prompted the change. There is a further twist: in the 1974 Penguin Books edition of The Great Gatsby, timed to appear with the premiere of the Paramount movie version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, “kyke” becomes “tyke” (40). This alteration was carried forward into an undated Penguin Modern Classics resetting that is still for sale in the United Kingdom today.

Neither Bantam printing of The Great Gatsby includes a true textual note. The Bantam fourth impression of 1951, in which “kyke” becomes “guy,” carries the following statement on the final page of the text: “This Bantam book contains the complete text of the original edition. Not one word has been changed or omitted” (191). Neither of the two Penguin editions (with “tyke”) says anything about its text. The sentence does not offend as it should when “kyke” becomes "guy” or “tyke.” Of course it is the vulgar Mrs McKee who uses the word, not Fitzgerald or Nick, but for safety “kyke” was changed in both of these texts.

Source:
Making the Archives Talk: New and Selected Essays in Bibliography, Editing, and Book History.  University Park: Penn State University Press, 2011.  x, 150 pp.  Twelve essays, ten previously published, two new.

The Great Gatsbys

Hark, A Vagrant takes on The Great Gatsby.


And my favourites quotes:

.... Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. [...] No — Gatsby turned out all right at the end;...

...“You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”
[...] It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. [...]The lawn and drive had been crowded with the faces of those who guessed at his corruption — and he had stood on those steps, concealing his incorruptible dream, as he waved them good-by.

The Great Gatsby - Vocabulary

turn over:to think carefully about all the details of something
privy to something: knowing about something, usually official information, that other people do not know
levity: a way of speaking or behaving that shows you do not think something is very serious
quiver: to shake with short quick movements
mar: to spoil something
parcel out: to share something among several people
riotous: very lively and noisy
unaffected: sincere and natural in your behaviour
scorn: a feeling that someone or something is not good enough to deserve your approval or respect
flabby: flabby flesh is loose and fat
prey on/upon someone: to harm someone who is weak or cannot defend themselves
elation: a feeling of great happiness and excitement
abortive: not finished and therefore not successful
sorrow: great sadness
well-to-do: rich and belonging to an upper class family
wholesale: relating to the business of selling large quantities of goods, especially to people who are going to sell them in a shop
hard-boiled: not showing any sympathy for other people
ragged: torn and dirty: wearing old dirty clothes and looking very poor
talk over: to discuss a problem or a plan
grave: looking very serious and worried
hesitant: doing something slowly or pausing before you do it, because you are nervous, embarrassed, or worried
cardboard: very stiff thick paper, used especially for making boxes
bungalow: a small house that is often all on one level
stove: a machine or a piece of equipment that provides heat for cooking or heating a room
pathfinder: someone who is the first to find a way across an area of land
confer: to give something such as authority, a legal right, or an honour to someone
mint: the place where a country makes its coins and paper money
epigram: a short poem or sentence that expresses something such as a feeling or idea in a short and clever or funny way
jut/jut out: to be further forward than other things or than normal
arresting: attracting your attention
eyesore: something that is ugly or unpleasant to look at, especially a building
savour: to enjoy an experience, activity, or feeling as much as you can and for as long as you can
string: a group of similar or connected things
wistful: slightly sad because you want to have or to do something - used when you are thinking about something that made you happy in the past
sundial: an object that measures time by the position of a shadow made in sunny weather, consisting of a pointed metal piece on top of a flat piece of stone
sturdy: strong and not easily hurt, damaged, or affected by what happens
straw: the yellow stems of dried crops such as wheat
supercilious: a supercilious person behaves as if they think they are better or more important than everyone else
swank: fashionable and expensive
strain: to pull at something very hard
lace: a thick piece of string used for tying shoes or boots
gruff: a gruff voice has a rough low sound
fractious: easily upset or annoyed
guts: the quality of being brave and determined
approve (of): to have a positive feeling towards someone or something that you consider to be good or suitable
defiant: refusing to obey a person or rule
pungent: a pungent taste or smell is very strong and sharp
snub-nosed: with a short nose that looks rather flat
rosy: pink in colour
frosted: covered with icing
ripple: to move like waves, or to make something move like waves
rug: a small carpet that covers part of a floor
buoy up: to keep something floating on water
flutter: to move up and down or from side to side with short, quick, light movements, or to make something move in this way
snap: to suddenly break something with a short loud noise, or to be broken in this way
totter: to stand or move in a way that is not steady
thrilling: extremely exciting
ecstatic: extremely happy or pleased
wreath: a circle of flowers or leaves that you put on a grave to show that you are remembering the dead person
deft: deft movements are made quickly and with skill
start: to move suddenly because you are afraid or surprised by something
retort: to reply immediately in an angry or humorous way to something that someone has said
pantry: a small room for storing food, usually next to the kitchen
wan: pale, or not bright
discontented: not satisfied with something
contemptuous: showing that you do not respect someone or something at all
wedge: to fix something tightly or in a small space
compel: to force someone to do something, or to get something from someone using force
languid: very slow and relaxed
fasten on: if your eyes fasten on someone or something, you start to look at them very carefully or for a long time
hulking: very large and heavy in appearance, especially in a way that seems ugly or frightening
banter: friendly conversation in which people tell jokes and laugh at each other
chatter: continuous fast informal talk, usually about unimportant subjects
profound: showing serious thought and wise ideas
lingering: lasting for a long time, especially when this is unpleasant or not necessary
quicken: if a feeling quickens, or if something quickens it, it becomes stronger
faintly: slightly
extemporize: to perform or produce something without preparing or practising
stirring: causing strong emotions
subdued: not very loud or bright
impassioned: expressing a lot of emotion
mount: if a particular feeling mounts, it gets stronger over a period of time
inquire: to ask someone for information about something
gaiety: a feeling or state of happiness and fun
searching: a searching glance or gaze seems to be looking at you very carefully to try to find out what you are thinking or feeling
startling: surprising, or very unusual
squarely: directly
wicker: long thin pieces of wood that are woven together to make furniture or baskets
settee: a long soft comfortable chair for two or three people
feebly: weakly
absently: in a way that shows you are thinking about something else or are not listening
contributory: partly responsible for a situation or event
exact: to get something from someone by threatening or forcing them or using your authority
smirk: to smile in an unpleasant way because something bad has happened to someone else, or because you think you have achieved an advantage over them
crimson: dark purple-red in colour
soothing: making you feel more calm and more relaxed and less nervous, worried, or upset
toss: to throw something somewhere gently or in a slightly careless way
anon: soon
fling: to throw something carelessly or with a lot of force
creep up on someone: if something creeps up on you, it happens slowly or gradually so that you do not notice it happening
peremptory: speaking or behaving rather rudely, as if you expect other people to obey you immediately
libel: the illegal act of writing things about someone that are not true
banns: an official announcement in church that two people intend to get married
nibble: to show a slight interest in an offer or idea
egotism: a feeling that you are more important than other people and need not care about them
shed: a large building where large machines or vehicles are kept
bellows: a tool used for blowing air into a fire. It consists of a leather bag between two wooden boards that you pull apart and push together.
waver: if a light or image wavers, it is not steady and it shakes or changes a lot
leisurely: slow and relaxed
hasty: done in a hurry because you do not have much time
shrink away: to move back or away from someone or something, especially because you are frightened or nervous
transcendent: not limited or influenced by negative attitudes, thoughts, or feelings
crumble: to break something into very small pieces, or to be broken into very small pieces
crawl: if a vehicle crawls, it moves forwards very slowly
ghastly: shocking in a way that frightens or upsets you
swarm: to go somewhere as part of a large crowd
leaden: made from or containing lead
stir up: to make water or dust move around
bleak: a bleak place seems cold and unfriendly and has no pleasant features
spectacles: glasses that you wear to see
wag: old-fashioned a humorous person
fatten: to make an amount of money larger, or to make a company’s value increase
brood: to think and worry about something a lot
bounded: formal if an area is bounded by a fence, trees, a river etc., this is what is around its edge
drawbridge: a bridge that can be pulled up to let ships pass
barge: a long flat boat used on rivers and canals
dismal: making you feel unhappy and without hope or enthusiasm
halt: a temporary or permanent stop in a process
insist on/upon doing something: to keep doing something that annoys people
saunter: to walk in a slow and relaxed way
heap: a large pile of something, especially an untidy pile
tanked up: extremely drunk
whitewash: a substance used for painting walls or buildings white
minister to someone/something: to help or look after people, especially those who are ill
crouch: to move your body close to the ground by bending your knees and leaning forwards slightly
blind: a window cover that you pull down from the top to the bottom
sumptuous: impressive, expensive, and of high quality
gleam: a look of emotion or excitement in someone’s eyes
stout: slightly fat. This word is less rude than ‘fat’
smoulder: to burn slowly, producing smoke but no flames mainly literary to feel very strong emotions that you do not express in words, especially anger or sexual feelings
flush: if someone flushes, their face becomes red because they are hot or ill, or are feeling angry, embarrassed, or excited
coarse: rude and offensive
mingle: if smells, feelings, flavours etc. mingle or you mingle them, they become mixed together without completely losing their individual characters
intent: determined to do something. This expression sometimes means that you do not approve of the thing that someone is determined to do
scrawny: very thin, in a way that is not attractive or healthy
defer to: to accept someone’s opinion or decision, especially because you respect them
Town Tattle: 1920's gossip magazine.
flask: a small flat bottle that fits in your pocket, used especially for carrying alcohol
upholstery: cloth or leather that is used for covering chairs and sofas
earnest: serious, determined, and meaning what you say
cower: to move your body down and away from someone or something because you are frightened
peer: to look very carefully, especially because something is difficult to see
wriggle: to move, or to make something move, by twisting or turning quickly
rapture: a feeling of great happiness or excitement
urge: to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take
regal: typical of or suitable for a king or queen
haughty: proud and unfriendly
bonnet: a hat that ties under your chin
countenance: your face, or the expression on your face
rakish: behaving and dressing in a way that is confident and slightly unusual, but attractive
lather: the white mass of bubbles produced when you mix soap and water
hauteur: proud and unfriendly behaviour
shiftless: lazy and not interested in anything
flounce: to walk quickly in an impatient way, because you are angry
absorbing: something that is absorbing is so entertaining that you give it all your attention
blow over: if a dangerous or embarrassing situation blows over, people stop worrying about it and soon forget about it
gyp: to trick or cheat someone when they buy something
kike: offensive a Jew
to beat the band: very briskly: very fast
patent: extremely obvious
chandelier: a large light that hangs from a ceiling and has branches for holding electric lights or candles
in a daze: not concentrating, thinking clearly, or understanding what is happening around you
snap: to speak to someone in a sudden, angry way
scamper: to move quickly with small light steps
toil: to work very hard doing something difficult and tiring, especially physical work
the ravages of something: the damage or destruction caused by something such as war, disease, or weather
fortnight: a period of two weeks
garnish: to add something to a dish of food to make it look more attractive
Hors d'oeuvre: appetizer
gaudy: brightly coloured and ugly, or of bad quality
shear: to cut the wool from a sheep
shawl: a large piece of material that is worn by a woman around her shoulders or on her head
lurch: to move suddenly in a way that is not smooth or controlled
caterer: a person or business that organizes the food and drinks for an event such as a party or meeting
weave: to move somewhere by going around and between things
glide: to move in a smooth and easy way with no noise
gypsy: offensive a Romany
hush: a sudden silence
bear: literary to carry or take someone or something somewhere
chauffeur: someone whose job is to drive a rich and important person around in their car, usually wearing a special uniform
ill at ease: not confident or relaxed
eddy: a current of water or air that moves against the main current in a circular pattern
slink: to go somewhere slowly and quietly so that people will not notice you
linger: to stay somewhere longer than is necessary, or to spend longer doing something than is necessary, because it is enjoyable or helpful to you
roar: to say something in a loud, deep, angry voice
mumble: to say something in a way that is not loud or clear enough so that your words are difficult to understand
undergraduate: a student who is studying for a first degree at a college or university. A student who already has a first degree is a graduate
yield up: to finally allow people to see something that has been hidden
ramble: to talk for a long time in a confused way, especially about other things instead of the subject that you should be talking about
staid: serious and rather boring
guard against something: to help to prevent something from happening
wheel around: to turn around quickly where you are standing
ascertain: to find out something
bona fide: a bona fide person or thing is really what they seem to be or what they claim to be
thorough: including everything that is possible or necessary
tortuous: twisting and turning around many bends
finger bowl: a small bowl filled with water and placed on a table for you to wash your fingers in after you have eaten
rowdy: noisy and causing trouble
lull: a quiet period during a very active or violent situation
roughneck: someone who behaves in a rude or threatening way
constrained: behaving in a way that is very controlled and not natural
florid: containing too much decoration, a florid face is red
coolly: calmly, without getting excited or angry
ring out: to produce a loud clear sound
echolalia: the uncontrollable and immediate repetition of words spoken by another person.
elude: if a fact, idea, or word eludes you, you cannot remember or understand it
convivial: friendly and making you feel welcome
swoon: old-fashioned to become unconscious and fall to the ground
arrest: formal to stop a process from continuing, especially to stop a bad situation from getting worse
jaunty: lively and confident
crisp: crisp weather is pleasant because it is cold and dry
quaver: if your voice quavers, it is not steady because you are feeling nervous or afraid
course: to flow somewhere in large amounts
beaded: covered in small drops of a liquid
rivulet: a small stream of liquid
vinous: affected or caused by the consumption of wine.
rend: to tear something into pieces
asunder: apart
dissension: strong disagreement about something, especially within a group of people
flank: to be at the side of something or someone
wayward: a wayward child or someone with wayward behaviour is difficult to control and does unexpected things
sheepish: ashamed or embarrassed about something that you have done
tantalize: to make someone feel excited by showing or offering them something that they want, often with no intention of giving it to them
enjoin someone to do something: formal to strongly advise or order someone to do something
din: a very loud unpleasant noise that lasts for a long time
duster: a light coat that you wear to protect your clothes from dust
dangle: if you dangle something, or if it dangles, it hangs or swings without anything stopping it
sway: to move or swing gently from side to side
caterwaul: if a person or animal caterwauls, they make an unpleasant loud high noise
wafer: a very thin biscuit
endow someone/something with something: formal to give a particular quality to something, or to say that something has a particular quality
chasm: a very deep crack in rock or ice
mellow: relaxed and satisfied, for example because of having drunk alcohol
racy: a racy story, film, or play is slightly shocking in the way that it describes or shows sex
haunting: beautiful in a way that makes you feel sad and remember something for a long time
loiter: to stand or wait in a public place for no particular reason
poignant: giving you feelings of sadness
throb: if something such as an engine or a machine throbs, it makes a low sound that is repeated steadily
tender: gentle in a way that shows that you care about someone or something
row: a noisy argument
shrewd: able to judge people and situations very well and to make good decisions
subterfuge: the use of lies and tricks
fender: mainly American a part of a vehicle that covers or protects the area round a wheel
flick: to make something move quickly and suddenly, especially with a quick movement of the hand
rotten: informal of a low quality, standard, or ability
tangle: a situation that is difficult to deal with because things are not organized properly
perspiration: liquid that your skin produces when you are hot, ill, or nervous (compare transpiration)
clean out: to use all of someone’s money
consequence: importance or relevance
pull someone’s leg: to tell someone something that is not true, as a joke
sawdust: very small pieces of wood like dust that are produced when you cut wood
detachment: a group of soldiers sent to perform a special job separately from the rest of their group
loaf: to spend time doing nothing, usually when you should be working
host: a lot of people or things
spire: the pointed top of a church tower or other building
gnawing: continuously causing you pain or worrying you
cobbled: covered with cobblestones (=round stones)
gilt: covered with a thin substance that looks like gold or is made of gold
girder: a very large metal bar used for making the frame of a building, bridge, or other large structure
hearse: a large car used for carrying a dead person in a coffin
bloom: mainly literary a flower
sombre: serious, or sad
modish: extremely fashionable
yolk: the middle part of an egg that is yellow
luxuriate: grow in abundance
lapse into: to gradually change to a quieter or less active state
highball: an alcoholic drink made by mixing whisky with water or soda, usually served in a tall glass
hash: meal made from small pieces of meat and potato cooked together
rove: if your eyes rove around a place, you look all around it
underhand: secret and dishonest
cuff: the part of a sleeve that fits around your wrist
outstay/overstay your welcome: to stay at a place for longer than people want
benediction: a Christian prayer that asks God to bless someone
denizen: someone or something that lives in a particular place or goes there often
nobs: knobs
roadster: an open-top car with two seats.
curb: a kerb at the edge of a road
engrossed: so interested or involved in something that you think about nothing else
beau: a woman’s boyfriend or lover
debut: the first appearance of a young upper-class woman in society.
armistice: a formal agreement between enemies to stop fighting a war
grope around: to search for something inside a container, bag etc. by feeling with your hands
spirits of ammonia: a solution of ammonium carbonate in alcohol or ammonia water, used in smelling salts.
hushed: very quiet
chambermaid: a woman whose job is to clean the bedrooms in a hotel
victoria: a light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a collapsible hood, seats for two passengers, and an elevated driver's seat in front.
tough: a rough and violent man.
dip: to move, or to move something downwards
heady: very exciting and making you feel that you can achieve anything you want
cornice: a raised line of plaster, wood, or stone at the edge of a ceiling
blaze: to shine very brightly
shrubbery: an area in a garden or park where shrubs - low thick bushes - are planted
glint: a quick flash of light
rout: archaic a disorderly crowd of people.
fumble: to say something in a way that is not skilful or effective
render: to provide a service, or to give help to someone or something
much obliged: formal used for thanking someone politely
shy away: to avoid someone, or to be unwilling to do something, because you are nervous, afraid, or not confident
soggy: wet and soft, especially in an unpleasant way
Finn: a native or national of Finland or a person of Finnish descent.
hollowly: with no real meaning
swan: to go somewhere in a relaxed and careless way, without paying attention to your work or responsibilities
dew: small drops of water that form on the ground during the night
bleared: dim or dull
harrowed: distressed
exhilarating: making you feel extremely happy, excited, and full of energy
ripple: a sound that gets gradually louder and then quieter
streak: a line or long mark on something that is a different colour from the colour surrounding it
stalk: to walk in a way that shows you feel angry or offended
mantelpiece: a shelf above the opening of a fireplace
tilt: if something tilts, it moves so that one side is lower than the other
muster up: summon up
commonplace: a statement or idea that is expressed very often
set back: to delay the progress of someone or something
massed: dense
abound with/in: to be filled with or contain a lot of something
steeple: a tall pointed tower on a church
thatch: to cover a roof of a building with dried plants such as straw or reeds
grocer: someone whose job is to sell food and other goods for the home in a small shop. The shop they work in is called a grocer’s.
spit: to force saliva out from your mouth
smear: to spread a soft or liquid substance on a surface in an untidy way
confounding: confusing, surprising
exult: to feel or show great pleasure and excitement, especially about something that you have achieved
celebrated: famous and praised by many people
postern: a back or side entrance.
jonquil, hawthorn, plum and kiss-me-at-the-gate: different varieties of flowers
frothy: covered with or consisting of a mass of small air bubbles
swathe someone/something in something to completely cover someone or something with something
intrude into: to enter a place where you are not allowed to go
dishevelled: if you are dishevelled, your hair and clothes do not look tidy
dazed: unable to think clearly or understand what is happening because you are surprised, upset, tired, or have been hit on the head
topple: to stop being steady and fall, or to make someone or something do this
shade your eyes: to keep light from shining directly into your eyes
run down: if something such as a machine or clock runs down, or if you run it down, it gradually stops working because it has no power
overwind: wind (a mechanism) beyond the proper stopping point.
disarray: a situation in which clothes or objects are very untidy
billow: a moving cloud of something such as smoke or steam
scanty: not much, and less than is needed
bewilderment: a feeling of being extremely confused
deck out: to decorate a person or object with something, usually for a special occasion
it transpired (that): formal used before you mention a fact or event that people did not know about
laudable: deserving to be praised or admired
random shot: a shot not directed or aimed toward any particular object, or a shot with the muzzle of the gun much elevated.
notoriety: a situation in which someone or something is famous for something bad
insidious: something that is insidious is dangerous because it seems to be harmless or not important but in fact causes harm or damage
spring: to happen or appear somewhere suddenly or unexpectedly
service: a religious ceremony
meretricious: seeming to be good, useful, or important but not really having any value at all
fierce: involving a lot of force or energy
bracing: cold in a way that makes you feel full of energy
self-absorbed: too concerned about yourself and not interested in other people
grotesque: extremely ugly and strange
conceit: a clever and unusual idea or way of comparing things, especially in poetry
ineffable: so impressive or beautiful that you cannot describe it
spin out: to make something last for a long time, usually longer than is good or necessary
washstand: a tall table with a bowl for water used in the past for washing your face or hands
fancy: imagination, or something that you imagine or dream about
oblivious: not noticing something, or not knowing about it
embrace: a situation in which someone completely accepts something such as a new belief, idea, or way of life
reverie: A state of abstracted musing; daydreaming.
dismayed: very upset, disappointed, or annoyed about something surprising or shocking that has happened
ferocious: severe or strong
savoury: usually in negatives morally or socially pleasant
turgid: using language in a way that is complicated and difficult to understand
elicit: to manage to get information from someone
skipper: someone who is in charge of a small ship or fishing boat. The more formal word is captain.
lavish: something that is lavish exists, is spent, or is given in a very large amount, especially if it costs a lot of money
contingency: something that might happen in the future, especially something bad
repose: if you repose something such as trust or confidence in someone, you have trust or confidence in them
inhospitable: unfriendly to guests
debauchery: behaviour that is considered to be immoral because it involves a lot of sex, alcohol, or illegal drugs
seaboard: the part of a country that is next to the sea
explode: to prove that a story or theory that many people believe is in fact false
trot: to walk with short quick steps
ingratiate yourself with someone: showing disapproval to try to get someone’s approval by doing or saying things that will please them
lounge: to lie, sit, or lean in a relaxed or lazy way
cordial: friendly
questioning: showing that you have doubts
trot: if a horse or other animal trots, it moves more quickly than when walking but does not run
profusion: a large quantity of something
expend: to use time, energy, money etc. doing something
hitherto: until the present time
oblivion: a state in which you do not notice what is happening around you, usually because you are sleeping or very drunk
genial: friendly and kind
tipsy: slightly drunk
septic: infected with bacteria
slump: to suddenly fall or sit because you are very tired or unconscious
counter: to reply to a criticism or statement that you disagree with
stoop: to bend the top half of your body downwards
unprecedented: the greatest in size, amount, degree etc. that has ever been known
beget: formal to cause something to happen or be created
chafe: to feel annoyed and impatient about something that stops you doing what you want
obtrusive: attracting attention in a way that is not pleasant or welcome
volley: to hit or kick a ball back to an opponent before it touches the ground
rouge: a red powder or cream that is used to give colour to your cheeks
pebble: a small stone, especially one that has been made smooth by water
menagerie: a large collection of wild animals kept in cages etc.
stir: to move, or to be moved, slightly because of the wind
tip: to pour something from one place or container into another
dilatory: slow to do or decide something
radiant: someone who is radiant looks extremely happy
blot out: to forget something unpleasant, or to make someone forget an unpleasant memory or feeling
outunwavering: strong and steady despite opposition or other problems
rind: the outer skin of a fruit such as a lemon or orange
break off: to stop doing something, especially speaking
venture: to be brave enough to say something
lurking: to wait, sometimes hiding, in order to frighten, annoy, or attack someone
gather: to believe that something is true, although no one has directly told you about it
hum: to make a low continuous sound
bustle: a lot of noisy activity in a crowded place
mount: formal to go up stairs, or to climb up somewhere
pap: mainly American very soft food for babies or people who are too ill to eat ordinary food
gulp or gulp down: to swallow food or drink quickly in a way that shows you are very hungry
wed: to combine one thing with another
perishable: subject to decay, spoilage, or destruction.
romp: if children or animals romp, they play or move around in a lively and often noisy way
tuning fork: a metal object that produces a particular note when you hit it, used by someone making small changes to a musical instrument so that it produces the correct note. It has a handle and two long thin parts.
strike on/upon something: to find or think of something suddenly, unexpectedly, or by accident
the incarnation: in the Christian religion, the appearance of God in human form, as Jesus Christ
sentimentality: the expression of feelings of sadness, sympathy, love etc. in a way that is unsuitable or obvious
wisp: something that has a long, thin, delicate shape, for example a cloud, smoke, or hair
obscure: not known about, or not well known
expectant: feeling excited about something that you think is soon going to happen
sulky: feeling angry and unhappy and not wanting to talk to anyone or to be with other people
villainous: mainly literary evil
squint: to close your eyes slightly and try to see something, either because of a bright light or because your eyes do not work very well
grudging: done in an unwilling way
bribe: to give money or presents to someone so that they will help you by doing something dishonest or illegal
tradesman: someone who sells goods or services
pigsty: informal a place that is very dirty or untidy (chiquero)
caravansary: a group of people travelling together.
something is up: spoken used for saying that something is wrong or something bad is happening
scene: a noisy argument or a strong show of feelings in a public place
harrowing: extremely worrying, upsetting, or frightening
broil: cook (meat or fish) by exposure to direct heat. / become very hot, especially from the sun.
simmer: to cook slowly at a temperature near boiling, or to cook something in this way
noon: twelve o’clock in the middle of the day
weary: showing that you are very tired
design: literary a plan or idea
flushed: looking red because you are hot or ill, or feel angry, embarrassed, or excited
mouthpiece: the part of something such as a musical instrument or a telephone that you put in or near your mouth
furnish: to provide furniture for a room or house
salon: old-fashioned a room in a large house used for receiving and entertaining guests
affront: something insulting that makes you shocked and angry
awning: a sheet of cloth hung above a window or door as protection against rain or sun, especially outside a shop
idol: a picture or statue that is worshipped as a god
clog: block
launder: formal to wash and iron clothes
croon: to speak in a soft voice that is intended to make someone feel calm
relinquish: voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up.
root: establish deeply and firmly.
rickey: a drink consisting of a spirit, typically gin, with lime or lemon juice, carbonated water, and ice.
stagnant: stagnant water does not flow and often smells bad
refuse: rubbish
dog days: the hottest days of the year
scalloped: decorated with a row of curves along the edge
ale: a type of dark-coloured beer without bubbles
morbid: showing a strong interest in subjects such as death that most people think are unpleasant
flash: mainly literary if someone’s eyes flash, a sudden strong emotion appears in them, especially anger
temper: a person's state of mind in terms of their being angry or calm.
fuss: a lot of unnecessary worry or excitement about something
savage: criticizing someone or something very much
rigid: unable to move because of a strong emotion such as fear or anger
quart: a unit for measuring an amount of liquid, containing two pints (0.96 litres)
cape: a loose piece of clothing without sleeves that hangs from your shoulders
distasteful: unpleasant in a way that upsets or offends you
boisterous: lively and noisy
keenly: if you look at someone keenly or watch them keenly, you look closely at them and notice everything about them
medium: someone who claims to be able to communicate with the spirits of dead people
snort: to make a sudden loud noise through your nose, for example because you are angry or laughing
stall: if a vehicle or its engine stalls, or if the driver stalls it, it suddenly stops working because not enough power is reaching the engine
run-down: so tired that you do not feel well
flurry: a small amount of snow, rain, or leaves blown around in a twisting movement
wise up: informal to learn or understand the truth about something, or to tell someone the truth about something
relentless: something bad that is relentless never seems to stop or improve
alight on something: to suddenly notice or think of something
locality: a particular area or district
disquieting: making you feel very worried or nervous
whip: a long thin piece of leather with a handle on one end, used for making horses move faster or for hitting someone
inviolate: something that is inviolate cannot be attacked or harmed
spidery: long and thin
elevated: elevated bridge
overripe: informal things such as stories or films that are overripe contain so much emotion that they seem silly. A more usual word is sentimental.
draw up: if a vehicle draws up, it arrives at a place and stops
engage: to start to employ someone or use their services
parlour: old-fashioned a room in a house, used for entertaining guests
mint julep: cocktail usually made with mint leaf, bourbon, sugar, and water.
clerk: American a receptionist in a hotel
stifling: heat or a room that is stifling is so hot that it is difficult for you to breathe
swell: very good
crab: informal to grumble; to complain, especially continuously and about unimportant things
portentous: overly solemn
append: to add something to the end of a piece of writing
putter: a special type of stick that is used in golf for hitting the ball a short distance along the ground towards the hole
bum: get by asking or begging.
tattoo: a rhythmic tapping or drumming.
eye: to look at someone or something carefully
(out) in the open: not secret
content: satisfied
count someone out: to not include someone in a plan or activity
sneer: to speak in an unpleasant way that shows you do not respect someone or something and you think you are better than them
overboard: off a boat or ship and into the water
gibberish: nonsense
libertine: someone who behaves in an immoral way, especially someone who has a lot of sexual relationships
prig: someone who thinks that they are better than other people because they always obey strict moral rules
spring to your feet: stand up quickly
partake: formal to be involved in an activity
vicarious: experienced through the actions of other people
grope: grope or grope around: to search for something inside a container, bag etc. by feeling with your hands
clergyman: a priest or minister of a Christian church
sage: wise and showing good judgment
spree: a short period that you spend doing a particular activity, especially something enjoyable such as spending money or drinking alcohol
revolting: extremely unpleasant
earnest: serious, determined, and meaning what you say
wipe out: to destroy or get rid of something completely
appeal: an urgent request for people to give you something that you need such as help, money, or information
rancour: a feeling of hate or anger that lasts a long time
swindle: to cheat someone in order to get their money
suit yourself: spoken used for telling someone rather rudely to do whatever they want, even though it is not what you want them to do
over the counter: drugs and medicines that are available over the counter can be bought without a doctor’s prescription
come in on: to join other people who are involved in something such as a business project
leave someone in the lurch: to leave someone in a difficult situation without helping them
have someone up: to send someone to a court of law because they have been accused of a crime
babble: to speak quickly in a way that other people cannot understand easily
slander: legal the crime of saying something about someone that is not true and is likely to damage their reputation
magnanimous: willing to forgive people, or willing to be kind and fair
presumptuous: showing too much confidence and not enough respect
flirtation: a short and not very serious sexual or romantic relationship
stroke: an unexpected but important event or action
joint: informal a restaurant, bar, or club, especially one that is cheap and not very nice
inquest: an official attempt by a court to find the cause of someone’s death
racket: informal a loud annoying noise that continues for a long time
agreeable: formal pleasant, nice, or satisfactory
colourless: not interesting, exciting, or original
bound for something: travelling towards a place
gathering: gradually increasing
waver: move quiveringly; flicker
knelt: past and past part.of kneel
shirtwaist: American a woman's blouse resembling a shirt
flap: a piece that is attached on one side only
wreck: American a crash
intent: concentrating hard on something
issue from something: if something such as a sound or smell issues from a place, it comes out from there
expostulate: to express strong disagreement
derange: throw into disorder
threshold: the floor at the entrance to a room or building
glazed: a glazed look or expression shows no interest or emotion
keenly: very strongly
wad: a round mass of something soft, for example cotton wool
truculent: aggressively defiant
self-conscious: embarrassed or worried about how you look or what other people think of you
dispose of something: to remove something such as a problem by dealing with it successfully
brisk: speaking quickly and only saying what is necessary. This word is sometimes used for saying that someone seems unfriendly
despicable: extremely unpleasant
wince: to react to something with a sudden expression on your face that shows you are embarrassed or feel pain
step on it: informal used for telling someone to drive a vehicle faster
presently: old-fashioned soon
unpleasantness: a situation in which people get angry, violent, or upset
rift: a crack or long narrow space that forms in a large mass of something such as rock or clouds
sill: a narrow shelf at the bottom of a window in a house or building
foghorn: a piece of equipment that makes a loud deep sound as a warning to other ships when there is fog
toss and turn: to be unable to sleep, or to sleep badly, especially because something is worrying you
dejection: someone who is dejected has lost all their hope or enthusiasm, especially because they have failed at something
pavilion: a building or tent at an exhibition or show
musty: smelling unpleasant and not fresh
humidor: an airtight container for keeping cigars or tobacco moist.
clutch: to hold someone or something firmly, for example because you are afraid or in pain, or do not want to lose them
extravaganza: a large and impressive celebration or event
play out: to develop or end in a particular way
redolent: reminding you of something / smelling of something
withered: a withered plant has become dry and is dying
pervade: to spread through the whole of something and become a very obvious feature of it
ravenous: very hungry
unscrupulous: willing to do things that are unfair, dishonest, or illegal
trade on something: to get an advantage by making use of something
stratum: a group or class in society
liable to something: likely to suffer from something unpleasant
whim: a sudden feeling that you must have or must do something. This word often suggests that what someone wants is not important
impersonal: used about large organizations that do not think about people's individual needs and situations
the holy grail: informal something that someone wants very much to have or to achieve
hot: difficult, or dangerous
throw someone over: to end a romantic or sexual relationship with someone
tranquil: calm, still, and quiet
majority: the rank or office of a major
wail: to make a long high sound
horn: a musical instrument consisting of a tube that is wide at one end and that you play by blowing into the narrow end
bead: a small usually round piece of plastic, glass, metal etc with a hole through it, that you put on a string or chain with other beads and wear as jewellery
chiffon: very thin transparent cloth made from silk or nylon
sharper: someone who cheats people in order to get their money
out-of-the-way: difficult to find because of being a long way away from major towns, roads etc
day-coach: an ordinary railroad passenger car, as distinguished from a sleeping car, parlor car, or other deluxe accommodations
vestibule: a room between the outside door and the main part of a building or house
folding chair: a chair that can be collapsed flat for easy storage or transport.

Great Gastby casting

The Great Gatsby is considered the finest example of the American novel, and not in vain. It is a shame its cinematic adaptation felt short of what was expected. These are my suggestions for a modern recasting.

I think Edward Norton would be suitable for the role. George is a sad and broken character, and Edward can definitely portray that.

Christina Hendricks was a easy choice. She is curvy, and has enought vitality for the role.

Natalie Portman is gorgeous, slim and somewhat boyish. She has the potential to be a perfect Jordan.

Who other could portray such despicable individual? Joaquín Phoenix has a great ability for interpreting hateable characters.

James Mcavoy would be excellent for a neutral character.

Amy Adams has that kind of airy and annoying character that Daisy has.

Leonardo Di Caprio is a very talented actor, and has the elegance to pull off Jay.

Songs from The Great Gatsby

I have tracked down the songs Fitzgerald alludes to in The Great Gatsby: "The Love Nest" (1920), "Sheik of Araby" (1921), "Ain't We Got Fun?" (1921) and "Three o'Clock in the Morning" (1922). It's never mentioned in the book, but I can't help thinking that people were dancing the Charleston at Gatsby's parties, as we can see in the movie (1974).

Sheik of Araby

It was a popular song written in 1921. Words by Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler. Music by Ted Snyder.

SHEIK OF ARABY

Well I'm the sheik of Araby
Your love belongs to me
Well at night where you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep
The stars that shine above
Will light our way to love
Ah you rule this world with me
the sheik of Araby

Well I'm the sheik of Araby
Your love belongs to me
Wow oh at night where you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep
Aha

The sun that shines above
Will light our way to love
You rule this world with me
I'm the sheik of Araby
Well I'm the sheik of Araby
Well I'm the sheik of Araby, yeah

Love Nest

A popular tune written in 1916 by Otto Harbach (words) and Louis A. Hirsch (music).

THE LOVE NEST

Many builders there have been
Since the world began,
Palace, cottage, mansion, inn
They have built for man.
Some were small and some were tall,
Long or wide or low...
But the best one of them of the all
Jack built long ago.
Was built in bygone days,
Yes, millions sing its praise:

Just a love nest, cozy and warm,
Like a dove rest, down on a farm,
A veranda with some sort of clinging vine,
Then a kitchen where some rambler roses twine;
Then a small room, tea set of blue,
There's the ball room, dream room for two,
Better than a palace with a gilded dome,
Is the love nest you can call home!

Building houses still goes on
Now as well as then
Ancient Jack and Jill are gone,
Yet return again.
Ever comes the question old,
"Shall we build for pride? Or,
Shall brick and mortar hold
worth and love inside?"
The answer you may know,
Jack solved it long ago...

Then a small room, tea set of blue,
There's the ball room, dream room for two,
Better than a palace with a gilded dome,
Is the love nest you can call home!

Ain't we got fun?

Popular song of 1921. Lyrics by Gus Kahn, Raymond B. Egan. Music by Richard Whiting.

AIN'T WE GOT FUN?

Bill collectors gather
'Round and rather
Haunt the cottage next door
Men the grocer and butcher sent
Men who call for the rent
But within a happy chappy
And his bride of only a year
Seem to be so cheerful
Here's an earful
Of the chatter you hear,

"Every morning,
Every evening,
Ain't we got fun?
Not much money,
Oh, but honey,
Ain't we got fun?
The rent's unpaid dear,
We haven't a bus.
But smiles were made, dear,
For people like us.
In the winter, in the Summer,
Don't we have fun?
Times are bum and getting bummer
Still we have fun.
There's nothing surer,
The rich get richer and the poor get children.
In the meantime,
In between time,
Ain't we got fun!"

Just to make their trouble nearly double
Something happened last night
To their chimney a gray bird came
Mister Stork is his name
And I'll bet two pins
A pair of twins
Just happen'd in with the bird
Still they're very gay and merry
Just at dawning I heard,

"Every morning,
Every evening,
Don't we have fun?
Twins and cares dear come in pairs, dear,
Don't we have fun?
We've only started
As mommer and pop.
Are we downhearted?
I'll say that we're not!
Landlord's mad and getting madder.
Ain't we got fun?
Times are so bad and getting badder,
Still we have fun.
There's nothing surer,
The rich get richer and the poor get laid off!
In the meantime,
In between time,
Ain't we got fun!

Three o'clock in the morning

It was a popular song of 1921. Lyrics by Dorothy Terriss. Music by Julian Robledo.

THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING

It's three o'clock in the morning,
We've danced the whole night thru,
And daylight soon will be dawning,
Just one more waits with you,
That melody so entrancing,
Seems to be made for us two,
I could just keep right on dancing
forever dear with you.

There goes the three o'clock chime,
chiming rhyming
My heart keeps beating in time,
Sounds like an old sweet love tune,
Say that there soon will be a honeymoon.

It's three o'clock in the morning,
We've danced the whole night thru,
And daylight soon will be dawning,
Just one more waltz with you,
That melody so entrancing,
Seems to be made for us two,
I could just keep right on dancing
forever dear with you.

Mendelssohn's Wedding March

One of the most famous music associated with weddings.

The Rosary

"The Rosary": was a popular Catholic religious song of the 1920's. It is probably an intentional irony that it is whistled by Wolfsheim, whose Jewish ethnicity has been emphasized throughout the book. Words and Music by Robert Cameron Rogers and Ethelbert Nevin.

THE ROSARY

The hours I spent with thee, dear heart
Are as a string of pearls to me;
I count them over ev'ry one apart,
My rosary, my rosary!

Each hour a pearl, each pearl a prayer
To still a heart in absence wrung:
I tell each bead unto the end,
And there a cross is hung!

O memories that bless and burn!
O barren gain and bitter loss!
I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn
To kiss the cross, sweetheart, to kiss the cross

The Great Gatsby: Glossary

• Thomas Parke D'Invilliers: is both a pen name of Francis Scott Fitzgerald and a character in his quasi-autobiographical first novel, This Side Of Paradise.
  

  

  Artemus Gates (1918)

• Dukes of Buccleuch: are a line of Scottish royalty.
• New Haven: is frequently used in the novel in a synecdochic manner to refer to Yale University, which is located at New Haven, CT.
• Delayed Teutonic migration: is Nick's witty description of The Great War. Teutons were members of an ancient Germanic tribe. The German army was generally credited with taking the first offensive action of the war by marching through Belgium toward France in August 1914.
• Great War: is the original name for World War I.
• Dodge: is an American car.
• Mæcenas: was a wealthy patron of the arts in ancient Rome. "His name is the symbol of the wealthy, generous patron of the arts."
• Midas: was a legendary Greek king whose touch turned matter to gold.
• Morgan: (John Pierpoint, 1837-1913) was one of the most successful financiers of 19th century America.
• Yale: is an Ivy League university, founded at New Haven, CT. in 1701.
• Long Island: stretches about 120 miles east from southern Manhattan into the Atlantic ocean. It consists of four counties: Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk.
• the egg in Columbus story: involves the legend of how Columbus convinced others that he could do something they thought was impossible.
•  East Egg and West Egg: The fictional Eggs situated at the shore of Long Island Sound, New York, stand for the Manor Haven/Sands Point and Great Neck, respectively (see the map below).


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• Hôtel de Ville: is literally a town hall. These were frequently architectural marvels of Northern France, Normandy.
• second cousin: Your second cousins are the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents.
• once removed: when used to describe a relationship, "removed" indicates that the two people are from different generations. "Once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed.
• Lake Forest: is a famously prosperous city north of Chicago in Lake County, IL.
• Georgian Colonial: refers to an architectural style popular in the 18th century.
• "The Rise of the Colored Empires": is, as described by Bruccoli in his notes to the novel, a veiled allusion to The Rising Tide of Color by Lothrop Stoddard, published in 1920.
• Cunard: is a British shipping company that has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic.
• White Star Line: was one of the popular ocean liner companies, begun in 1868 by Thomas H. Ismay. It eventually merged with the Cunard Line.
• Saturday Evening Post: a bimonthly American magazine, see official site.
• Asheville: is a city of western North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Hot Springs: is a famous resort town in Arkansas.
• Palm Beach: on the southeastern coast of Florida was developed as a resort town in the 1890s by Henry Flagler, a co-founder of Standard Oil (with John D. Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews).
• Rotogravure pictures: are magazine illustrations produced on rotary photogravure presses.
• the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg : The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are a pair of fading, bespectacled eyes painted on an old advertising billboard over the valley of ashes.
• Borough of Queens: is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located on western Long Island. It was incorporated into NYC in 1898.
• John D Rockefeller: was a spectacularly wealthy industrialist and philanthropist of the 19th century. Before the Supreme Court broke up his Standard Oil Trust, he made over $1 billion.
• Gardens of Versailles: are one of the most notable features of the extravagant Palace of Versailles, official residence of the kings of France from 1682 to 1790.
• Simon Called Peter: is a novel published in 1921, about the passionate life of an army chaplain. (It is a novel that Fitzgerald regarded as immoral).
• Ectoplasm: is some kind of stuff said to be related to ghostly appearances.
• Montauk Point: is the eastern-most extremity of Long Island.
• Kaiser Wilhelm [II]: ruled Germany from 1888 to his abdication in 1918. He presided over German involvement in The Great War.
• Monte Carlo: is a resort in Monaco, famous for its gambling houses.
• Marseilles: is a port city on the Mediterranean coast of France.
• Pennsylvania Station: in New York City, was constructed in 1910 and demolished in 1964.
• Rolls-Royce: is a British company famous for its automobile and aircraft engines. Its automobiles have a reputation for being of the highest quality, beginning with The Silver Ghost of 1906.
• Dreams of Castile: suggests that the shawls of women at Gatsby's parties were finer than any that the inhabitants of Castile could hope to own. Castile is a former kingdom in north central Spain.
• Frisco:  Joe Frisco was an American vaudeville performer who first made his name on stage as a jazz dancer.
• "Follies": refers to The Ziegfeld Follies, a musical revue famous for its beautiful girls, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld from 1907 to 1931.
• Gilda Gray: a Polish-American actress and dancer who became famous in the US for popularizing a dance called the "shimmy" which became fashionable in 1920s films and theater productions."
• Croirier's: is apparently a fictional store, perhaps inspired by Cartier's, a famous jewelry store established in New York by Pierre Cartier in 1917. "Croire" is a French word meaning "to believe, to think, or to credit."
• Gothic: refers to the predominant architectural style of the Middle Ages.
• "The Stoddard Lectures": were travel books published in 1897. Have a look here
• Belasco, David: was an American theatrical producer famous for his realistic set designs.
• Jazz: is an improvisational musical form rooted in blues, spirituals, ragtime, marching bands, and other earlier music. Fitzgerald is often called the great writer of "The Jazz Age".
• Oxford: is a British university, is the oldest in the English-speaking world.
• Carnegie Hall: is a famous performance venue in New York City. It opened in 1891 with a performance of Marche solennelle conducted by Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
• French bob: is a short hairstyle popular in the 1920s. See illustrations at The Costume Gallery.
• Owl-eyes: used in reference to the drunk in the library, hints that he knows some truth or has some wisdom concerning Gatsby. At least, this is one common interpretation. In Greek mythology the owl is associated with Athena, goddess of wisdom.
• Madison Avenue: is a street in New York City which is traditionally identified with the advertising business.
• Warwick: is a summer resort town southeast of Providence, RI.
• Knickerbockers: or knickers, were short pants that descended to the knee, where they were met by long socks.
• American Legion: "The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veteran’s organization."
• Bois de Boulogne: is a large park in Paris.
• Argonne Forest: is a wooded and hilly region of northeast France, a major battleground in World War I.
• Lewis guns: were light machine guns used in The Great War.
• Adriatic Sea: The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula
• Montenegro: is one of the Balkan states which formed the nation of Yugoslavia
• Orderi di Danilo: See a pair of photos of actual medals of this order here



Trinity Quad

• Trinity Quad: is the open space surrounded on all sides by the buildings of Trinity College at Oxford.
• Cricket bat: is an essential part of every game of cricket. The game is known and played throughout many of nations of the former British Empire.
• Grand Canal: is a major watery thoroughfare of Venice, Italy. Some photos here
• Port Roosevelt: is, as Bruccoli points out in his notes for the novel, not an identifiable location.
• Queensboro Bridge: stretches across the East River, connecting the borough of Queens to Manhattan Island.
• Blackwell's Island: is currently known as Roosevelt Island, located in the East River. It has been the site at various times of a penitentiary (1832-1935), lunatic asylum, and several hospitals.
• World's Series: is the annual baseball championship held between the American and National Leagues. In the book the character Meyer Wolfsheim is supposedly the one who fixed theWorld Series of 1919.
• Camp Taylor:(a.k.a.) Camp Zachary Taylor was an army training camp near Louisville, KY. 2nd Lt. F. Scott Fitzgerald reported to Camp Taylor in February of 1918.
• Red Cross: is an international humanitarian relief organization whose American branch was founded by Clara Barton in 1881.
• Armistice: marks the day (November 11, 1918) on which World War I was officially ended.
• Cannes: An important and fashionable resort on the French Riviera
• Deauville: "Deauville, lady of the French coast, its most glamorous seaside resort, symbolizes elegance, prestige and sophistication."
• Amour: is the French word for "love." Jordan uses the term to suggest marital infidelity
• Central Park: is a large park in mid-Manhattan; it opened to the public in 1859.
• Coney Island: A resort district of Brooklyn, New York, on the Atlantic Ocean, famous for its boardwalk and amusement park featuring souvenir stands, thrilling rides, and numerous eating places
• Castle Rackrent: was originally the title of a novel (1800) by Irish writer Maria Edgeworth.
• Kant [Immanuel]: (1724-1804), was one of the most significant European philosophers.
• Marie Antoinette: became Queen of France when her husband assumed the throne in 1774
• Restoration: refers, in the novel, to a style of architecture that arose during the period of the English Restoration, beginning in 1660 (with the restoration of the monarchy after the Puritan Commonwealth and Protectorate).
• Merton College Library: literally refers to the library of that College at Oxford, but in the novel Nick puts it in quotation marks to indicate that it is either a witty expression of his own or what Gatsby himself calls the library. Perhaps the name is written on the door.
• Adam study: probably refers to interior design by, or inspired by, Scottish architect Robert Adam (1728-1792).
• Chartreuse: is a green or yellow liqueur.
• Underground pipe-line to Canada: Prohibitionof the manufacture and sale of alcohol in the United States produced a number of fanciful notions about how alcohol managed to enter the country under these restrictions.
• Platonic conception: refers, first of all, to the Greek philosopher's idealism, the belief that only ideas (pure forms) are really real. There is also a pun on the term "conception," leaning on the word's associations with thinking as well as with matters of sexual reproduction.
• His Father's Business: is an allusion to a comment made by the young Jesus to his parents when they find him talking with the teachers in the temple [Lk.2.49].
• St. Olaf: located in Northfield MN, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was founded in 1874.
• Yukon: is a territory located in western Canada, north of British Columbia and east of Alaska. The discovery of gold in the Klondike, a region of western Yukon Territory, set off a major gold rush in 1897.
• Madame de Maintenon: rose from poverty to become the second wife of French King Louis XIV.
• Barbary Coast: is literally the Mediterranean coast of north Africa, but - as Bruccoli notes, the novel probably refers to the wild waterfront area of San Francisco that developed after the 1849 gold rush.
• Fox-trot: is a popular form of ballroom dancing, introduced in 1914.
• Trimalchio: is a character in The Satyricon, a first century Latin work by Petronius. Trimalchio was famous for hosting spectacularly lavish parties.
• Circus wagon: is an elaborately decorated wagon used to transport circuses from one place to another.
• Astoria: is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the New York City borough of Queens.
• Plaza Hotel: is located on Fifth Avenue and Central Park South.
• Kapiolani: is a park on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
• The Punch Bowl: is a volcanic crater on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
• Grain alcohol: clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content. One of the legal exceptions to the Prohibition law was that pharmacists were allowed to dispense whiskey by prescription for any number of ailments, ranging from anxiety to influenza. Bootleggers quickly discovered that running a pharmacy was a perfect front for their trad.
• Negro: was the term commonly used in the past by African Americans and non-African Americans alike.
• Montreal: is the largest city in Quebec, Canada.
• Hempstead: is a village of western Long Island.
• Southampton: is a town, one of "the Hamptons," in Suffolk County, Long Island.
• Flushing: is an important neighborhood in northern Queens, one of the five boroughs of New York City.
• Holocaust: as used in the novel, is not related to later associations with Nazi genocidal programs. American Heritage Dictionary provides an alternate definition: "A sacrificial offering that is consumed entirely by flames." This refers to the Jewish practice of animal sacrifices in ancient Israel.
• Pasquinade: is "a satire or lampoon, especially one that ridicules a specific person, traditionally written and posted in a public place."
• Greenwich: is the tenth oldest town in Connecticut.
• The Swastika Holding Company: should not be taken as an ironic use of the famous symbol of Nazi party. As Bruccoli indicates in his notes to the novel, the swastika was "simply a popular- and universal - decorative device".
• Albany: is the capitol city of New York state
• Hopalong Cassidy: is the cowboy hero of a series of novels by Clarence E. Mulford published between 1907 and 1941. This is interesting because the date on Gatsby's fly-leaf is "September 12th, 1906". Thus Fitzgerald has committed anachronism, as Bruccoli concurs.
• Union Station: was one of the major train stations of Chicago.
• Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Railroad: was a rail line that travelled between Chicago and the cities of Puget Sound
• Lost Swede towns: refers to the predominance of Swedish immigrants among the earliest settlers of Minnesota.
• El Greco: was an artist, "the first great genius of the Spanish School."
• Dutch sailors: are connected to the early settlement of the New York area.
• An aesthetic contemplation: concerns thoughts related to the appreciation of, or a heightened sensitivity to, beauty.

updated 25/05/2012: cleaner html code, broken links replaced, new entries

Sources: 

An Index to The Great Gatsby: (2007). Br. Tom Murphy, O. C. . Retrieved June 5, 2009, from http://brtom.org/: http://brtom.org/gg/gga2.html