Readers who relish complex character studies and lush, tragic narratives will find Tender Is the Night captivating. Fans of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, with their themes of decadence, disillusionment, and the expatriate experience, will similarly appreciate this novel.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night is often praised for its lyrical prose, intricate character development, and exploration of themes such as disillusionment and the decadence of the Jazz Age. Critics highlight its emotional depth and tragic beauty. However, some find the narrative structure challenging and the pace uneven. Overall, it is considered a poignant, if complex, work in American literature.

Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows the lives of Dick and Nicole Diver, a glamorous yet troubled couple vacationing in the south of France, who become entwined with a young actress, Rosemary Hoyt. The narrative examines their tumultuous relationship, haunted by Nicole's past trauma and Dick's professional and personal decline. The book contains passages dealing with alcoholism, incest, mental illness, and violence.

Melancholic / Bittersweet / Contemplative / Mysterious / Emotional

- When Tender Is the Night was published in 1934, it marked F. Scott Fitzgerald's return to novel writing after a nine-year hiatus since The Great Gatsby.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald drew extensively on his own experiences for the novel, including his wife's struggle with mental health and the couple's glamorous life in Europe during the 1920s.
- The title Tender Is the Night is derived from a line in John Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale," reflecting the novel's themes of beauty and melancholy.

**Richard (Dick) Diver**  
A respected psychiatrist living in wealth and prestige on the French Riviera, who wrestles with personal and professional challenges as he navigates complex relationships within an American expat community.

**Nicole Warren-Diver**  
An American heiress and patient in a Swiss clinic, whose past trauma and current condition bring her into a complicated marriage with Dick, marked by social and emotional upheaval.

**Rosemary Hoyt**  
A young actress who captures attention with her charm and success in Hollywood, sparking dynamics that test the Diver's marriage while she enjoys life with youthful exuberance and independence.

**Abe North**  
A talented but troubled musician amidst the American expats in France, whose drinking habits and personal struggles highlight the darker side of expatriate life.

**Franz Gregorovius (Doctor Gregory)**  
A pragmatic and professional psychiatrist in Switzerland, serving as a contrasting figure to Dick, and who plays a significant role in the professional changes within the narrative.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore Tender Is the Night and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Tender Is the Night Summary and Study Guide

Background

Tender Is the Night Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 1, Chapters 1-8

Tender Is the Night Book 1, Chapters 1-8 Summary & Analysis

Book 1, Chapters 9-16

Tender Is the Night Book 1, Chapters 9-16 Summary & Analysis

Book 1, Chapters 17-25

Tender Is the Night Book 1, Chapters 17-25 Summary & Analysis

Book 2, Chapters 1-8

Tender Is the Night Book 2, Chapters 1-8 Summary & Analysis

Book 2, Chapters 9-16

Tender Is the Night Book 2, Chapters 9-16 Summary & Analysis

Book 2, Chapters 17-23

Tender Is the Night Book 2, Chapters 17-23 Summary & Analysis

Book 3, Chapters 1-6

Tender Is the Night Book 3, Chapters 1-6 Summary & Analysis

Book 3, Chapters 7-13

Tender Is the Night Book 3, Chapters 7-13 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Tender Is the Night Character Analysis

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Themes

Tender Is the Night Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Tender Is the Night Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Tender Is the Night Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Tender Is the Night Essay Topics

Tender Is the Night

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Tender Is the Night?

Reading Age

Book Details