Title: The diamond as big as the Ritz and other stories

 Author: F.Scott Fitzgerald

Publishing house: Oxford progressive English readers

Grade: 4

Setting:  Hades, St Mida's school, Percy's house in a small village in Montana

Characters:  

• John T.Unger  is the main character and comes from a very rich family in Hades. He is smart, friendly and perceptive
• Percy Washington is the son of the richest man in the world. He tries to make friends with John.
• Kismine Washington is Percy's sister and falls in love with John. She is a simple and sincere girl.
• Mr. Washington is the owner of a secret diamond mine and of a mountain made up of solid diamond. He is a money-hungry and cruel man

Themes: love, wealth, youth, corruption

Message: Wealth is a dangerous thing: it is a cause of corruption and makes you forget about the simple               

                   but beautiful things of life.

Title: Basil: The freshest boy

Setting: a school near New York City and New York City

Characters:

• Basil Lee is a dreamy boy who comes from a reach family and is hated at school. He is very tied to his mother. He wants to go to New York City

• Lewis Crum  hates school and Lee
• Mr Rooney takes Basil to NY and gives him some advice to be accepted by his schoolmates

Themes: homesick, ostracism, self-confidence

Title: Babylon revisited

Setting: Paris

Characters:

• Charlie is a businessman who has a daughter. But he was an alcoholic man and caused his wife's death. He often thinks about his past but tries to become a better man.
• Honoria is Charlie's daughter. She is a really sweet and strong girl, even if she has to front different familial problems.
• Marion and Lincoln are Honoria's aunt and uncle. They love their niece and always try to make the best choice for her.
• Lorraine and Dunkan are the owners of the pub where Charlie used to go and drink

Themes: parental love, guilt-feelings, wish to change your life

Message: It's never too late to change your life and have what is really important for you.

Title: Gretchen's forty Winks

Setting: Kingsley and a small village near there

Characters:

• Roger Halsey is an ambitious and smart businessman who works hard to become rich.
• Gretchen is Roger's wife. She loves his husband but can't stand to live on the edge.
• George Tompkins is the couple's neighbor; he seems to be a really confident and determined man but in fact he is indecisive and frail.

Themes: value of wealth, jealousy

Message: Sometimes, working hard is better than trying to relax and reach a balanced life.