Thread by @maxgladstone

Oh my god, the Scribner paperback of Gatsby contains ~Maxwell Perkins' edit letter to Fitzgerald~

"I think you are right in feeling a certain slight sagging in chapters six and seven, and I don't know how to suggest a remedy. I hardly doubt that you will find one and I am only writing to say that I think it does need something to hold up here to the pace set and ensuing."

It starts off: "I think you have every kind of right to be proud of this book. It is an extraordinary book... you adopted exactly the right method of telling it"

Just imagine Fitzgerald getting this letter, punching the air...

And then: TRAGEDY

"I have only two actual criticisms"

Cut to: Scott, COLLAPSED in chair, white knuckled grip on chair arm, "you can do this Scott, you can do this"

OMG, criticism one: "Among a set of characters marvelously palpable and vital—I would know Tom Buchannan if I met him on the street and would avoid him—Gatsby is somewhat vague."

Pity Zelda or whoever was trying to read in the next room when our boy F. Scott read this line and jumped up and shouted "DOESN'T hE gEt iT THAT'S THE POINT!"

hahah ~dying~

"Now everything about Gatsby is more or less a mystery i.e. more or less vague, and this may be somewhat of an artistic intention, but I think it is mistaken."

Zelda, next room, sipping a nice cup of tea, when through the wall—

"MISTAKEN?!?!"

*teacup crash*

And then of course:

"I think that for some reason or other a reader—this was true of Mr Scribner and of Louise—gets an idea that Gatsby is a much older man than he is, although you have the writer say that he is a little older than himself"

Our boy F Scott, breaking out of high dudgeon: "ohhhh shit that ~is~ a problem"

"This would be avoided if on his first appearance he was seen as vividly as Daisy and Tom are, for instance—and I do not think your scheme would be impaired if you made him so"

F Scott: Oh, huh, this is really good actually

"The other point is also about Gatsby: his career must remain mysterious, of course. ... To give a distinct and definite [explanation] would be, of course, utterly absurd"

Scott: *nodding vigorously*

"It did occur to me, though"

Scott: Oh no

"that you might here or there interpolate some phrases, and possibly incidents ... that would suggest that he was in some active way mysteriously engaged"

Scott: oh okay that's an afternoon, thank god, I really need the onsub advance

Scott: Fantastic, two points, that's all, good job Scott old boy, bit of a drink and let's go to dinner, that wasn't so bad

"There is one other point."

Scott: WHAT

Classic apex editor trick: I have two points. And, now that you're softened up a bit, I have this third point.

Aw, if only: "The general brilliant quality of the book makes me ashamed to make even these criticisms. ... These are such things as make a man famous."

"All these things, the whole pathetic episode, you have given a place in time and space, for with the help of TJ Eckleburg and by an occasional glance at the sky, or the sea, or the city, you have imparted a sort of sense of eternity."

"You once told me you were not a *natural* writer—my God! You have plainly mastered the craft, of course; but you needed far more than craftsmanship for this."

Zelda, through the wall: Scott? Scott, did you make a sound? Are you still in there?

Scott: *there is no Scott* *is an actual puddle now*

And, scene.