The Last Tycoon

by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Last Tycoon cover
Good Books rating 3.75
Historical Fiction
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  • ID: 10312
  • Added: 2026-01-24
  • Updated: 2026-02-03
  • ISBN: 9780141185637
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2002-01-31
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3

The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a captivating tale set in the golden age of Hollywood. The story revolves around Monroe Stahr, a powerful and charismatic studio executive, who becomes entangled in a passionate but ultimately hopeless love affair with a mysterious woman. Their relationship is set against the backdrop of the glamorous and cutthroat world of the film industry, where ambition, power, and desire collide. /n/n Fitzgerald's novel is renowned for its vivid portrayal of the Hollywood elite and its exploration of themes such as love, power, and the fleeting nature of success. The narrative is rich with historical details and insights into the inner workings of the film industry, making it a compelling read for those interested in both literature and Hollywood history.

Reviews
The Wall Street Journal · 2023-12-22
tragic 3.50

The novel is a tragic but uncynical look at the Hollywood industry and those who oversaw it. Fitzgerald's personal experiences add depth to the narrative.

The reviewer describes 'The Last Tycoon' as a tragic but uncynical novel about the Hollywood industry and those who oversaw it. Fitzgerald's personal experiences in Hollywood add a layer of depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read. The reviewer appreciates the novel's honest depiction of the industry and its impact on the characters. The novel's unfinished nature is noted, but it is seen as a valuable insight into Fitzgerald's final work.

Quick quotes

    The author toiled on forgettable movie scripts while working on a tragic but uncynical novel about the industry and those who oversaw it.

    Fitzgerald's personal experiences in Hollywood add a layer of depth to the narrative.

    The novel's unfinished nature is noted, but it is seen as a valuable insight into Fitzgerald's final work.

MGerardMingo Blog · MGerardMingo · 2019-02-25
touching 3.75

The novel resists coherent discussion due to its unfinished nature, but it offers a unique insight into Fitzgerald's final work. The relationship between the main characters is particularly touching.

The reviewer notes that 'The Last Tycoon' is a novel that resists coherent discussion because it was never finished. However, it provides a unique insight into Fitzgerald's final work and his experiences in Hollywood. The relationship between the main characters, Stahr and Kathleen, is particularly touching, as Fitzgerald skillfully moves them from strangers to lovers. The reviewer appreciates the depth and emotional resonance of this relationship, which adds a layer of complexity to the novel.

Quick quotes

    The Last Tycoon is a novel that resists coherent discussion, for one obvious reason: it was never finished.

    Fitzgerald is very touching when he takes Stahr and Kathleen and moves them from strangers to lovers.

    The relationship between the main characters is particularly touching, as Fitzgerald skillfully moves them from strangers to lovers.

The New York Times · 2000-12-24
ambitious 4.00

The novel is ambitious and unfinished, but it shows Fitzgerald's potential for his best work yet. It captures the essence of 1930s Hollywood with a raw and unfiltered lens.

The reviewer highlights the ambition of 'The Last Tycoon,' noting that despite its unfinished state, it could have been Fitzgerald's best work. The novel's depiction of 1930s Hollywood is praised for its honesty and brutality, capturing the greed and sadness of the era. The reviewer suggests that Fitzgerald's experiences in Hollywood lend the book a unique verisimilitude, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    So, too, is 'The Last Tycoon' an ambitious book, but, uncompleted though it is, one would be blind indeed not to see that it would have been Fitzgerald's best ...

    It shows the full powers of its author, at their height and at their best.

    The novel's depiction of 1930s Hollywood is praised for its honesty and brutality, capturing the greed and sadness of the era.

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