69 pages • 2 hours read
Tender Is the Night
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Book Brief
315
Novel • Fiction
French Riviera • 1920s
1934
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows the lives of Dick and Nicole Diver, a glamorous yet troubled couple vacationing in the south of France, who become entwined with a young actress, Rosemary Hoyt. The narrative examines their tumultuous relationship, haunted by Nicole's past trauma and Dick's professional and personal decline. The book contains passages dealing with alcoholism, incest, mental illness, and violence.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Contemplative
Mysterious
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
142,623 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night is often praised for its lyrical prose, intricate character development, and exploration of themes such as disillusionment and the decadence of the Jazz Age. Critics highlight its emotional depth and tragic beauty. However, some find the narrative structure challenging and the pace uneven. Overall, it is considered a poignant, if complex, work in American literature.
Who Should Read Tender Is the Night?
Readers who relish complex character studies and lush, tragic narratives will find Tender Is the Night captivating. Fans of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, with their themes of decadence, disillusionment, and the expatriate experience, will similarly appreciate this novel.
142,623 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Nicole Warren-Diver
Nicole Warren-Diver
An American heiress and patient in a Swiss clinic, whose past trauma and current condition bring her into a complicated marriage with Dick, marked by social and emotional upheaval.
Rosemary Hoyt
Rosemary Hoyt
A young actress who captures attention with her charm and success in Hollywood, sparking dynamics that test the Diver's marriage while she enjoys life with youthful exuberance and independence.
Abe North
Abe North
A talented but troubled musician amidst the American expats in France, whose drinking habits and personal struggles highlight the darker side of expatriate life.
Franz Gregorovius (Doctor Gregory)
Franz Gregorovius (Doctor Gregory)
A pragmatic and professional psychiatrist in Switzerland, serving as a contrasting figure to Dick, and who plays a significant role in the professional changes within the narrative.
315
Novel • Fiction
French Riviera • 1920s
1934
Adult
18+ years
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