The Great Gatsby novel by Fitzgerald epitomized the soaring economy of the early 1920's following the War. Culture wasn't influenced by this book. Fitzgerald merely created a fictional novel about a family who lived the life of extreme money and culture of that time. people made money in the 20's from all sorts of factors, one being the banning of alcohol. Families who had money continued to prosper. New money families were created out of the business of making and selling alcohol. Speakeasy's were profitable. Mafia and crime families found this an easy way to create new business and profits. Business between wealthy families and crime families blended. Fitzgerald wrote a splendid novel of the decadence of the 20's lifestyle but it made so much more of an impact since he chose a wealthy family to base his book about.
