How to get The Great Gatsby free for school
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most assigned books in school. Here's how to get a copy free, which edition to look for, and what to know before you start.
Is it free online?
Free to read online, legally
The Great Gatsby is in the public domain in the United States, so anyone can read it free:
- Project Gutenberg: free ebook to read online or download.
- Standard Ebooks: a carefully formatted free ebook.
- LibriVox: free audiobooks read by volunteers (search for the title).
Even so, many teachers want everyone in the same printed edition so page numbers match, so it's worth getting a print copy too.
Ways to get it free
- Ask at your school library. Many schools have class sets of The Great Gatsby, since it's assigned year after year.
- Check BookBaton
.com . At schools on BookBaton, students give away copies they've finished, and you can ask for one free. Book Drops happen at the school library. Find your school. - Place a hold at your public library, for the print book and in the Libby app (ebook and audiobook). Do it as soon as you get your reading list, because waiting lists build up before the school year.
- Ask someone a grade ahead. Older siblings, cousins and neighbors often have a copy on a shelf.
- Talk to your teacher or school counselor if getting the book is hard for your family. Many schools can help.
Which edition?
Many schools use the Scribner paperback (ISBN 9780743273565). If your teacher refers to page numbers, ask which edition the class is using before you get a copy.
Why it's assigned
It's a short, rich look at the American Dream in the 1920s: wealth, class, love and reinvention, told through the eyes of Nick Carraway as he watches his mysterious neighbor Jay Gatsby. Teachers like it for its symbols, like the green light, and because it's short enough to read closely.
Heads-up for families: It's set in the 1920s and includes drinking, an affair, and a fatal car accident. Teachers usually prepare students for this in class.
Common questions
Is The Great Gatsby free to read?
Yes. It was published in 1925, so it's now in the public domain in the United States. You can read or download it free and legally from Project Gutenberg or Standard Ebooks.
Can I use a free online copy for class?
Usually, but ask your teacher. Page numbers won't match the paperback the class is using, which matters when your teacher points to a page.
Done with it? Pass it on
When you finish The Great Gatsby, give your copy to the next student who needs it. Someone at your school will almost certainly be assigned it next year.
Get The Great Gatsby from a student at your school
On BookBaton
Last updated October 19, 2026. More help: How to get your required reading books for free.