Who was the real Jay Gatsby?
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Cushman Rice is considered by some to be the man upon whom F. Scott Fitzgerald based "The Great Gatsby." This photo, taken in France in 1918, shows Rice in uniform as a major in the U.S. Air Service.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Hardy
Not much is known about the origin of the character Jay Gatsby, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby." But a St. Paul author is writing a biography about a dashing Minnesotan named Cushman Rice, who may have been Fitzgerald's inspiration.
MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Dan Hardy, author of "The Man Who Was Gatsby: The Tales and Times of Cushman Rice."
Gallery
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.