“In the dead white hours of Zurich, looking out at the night where the broken moon was tossing on the wind-whipped lake…”
Book One
The novel opens on the French Riviera in the 1920s, introducing Rosemary Hoyt, a young American actress who becomes infatuated with psychiatrist Dick Diver and his glamorous wife Nicole. The Divers are part of a wealthy expatriate social circle, appearing perfect but hiding deep tensions. Rosemary’s innocent admiration contrasts with the darker undercurrents in the Diver marriage.
Book Two
The narrative shifts to flashbacks revealing Dick and Nicole’s past. Dick, a promising psychiatrist, meets Nicole as his patient—a wealthy young woman with mental illness stemming from incestuous abuse by her father. Their marriage begins as both a professional relationship and a romantic union, with Dick initially stabilizing Nicole’s condition.
Book Three
As years pass, the strain of Nicole’s illness and Dick’s fading ambitions take their toll. Dick descends into alcoholism while Nicole grows stronger. Their roles reverse—she gains independence as he self-destructs. The couple travels through Europe, their deteriorating marriage mirrored by the fading glamour of the expatriate lifestyle.
Book Four
The final section shows the complete unraveling of the Divers’ marriage. Nicole has an affair, signaling her emotional independence from Dick. He leaves their social circle in disgrace, drifting into obscurity as a small-town doctor in America. Meanwhile, Nicole remarries and thrives without him, completing their tragic role reversal.
Key ideas
- The corruption of the American Dream among expatriates
- Psychological disintegration of seemingly perfect lives
- Gender role reversals in marriage
- The destructive power of wealth and privilege
- Mental illness as both personal and societal metaphor
Who should read this book?
- Fans of psychological character studies
- Readers interested in Jazz Age literature
- Those exploring themes of mental health in classic fiction
- Admirers of Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose style