Long Island home that shaped Great Gatsby selling for $17m

A home that helped shape The Great Gatsby has gone on the market for $16.88 million.

The 13-bedroom house at 235 Middle Neck Road is being sold by Sotheby’s International Realty.  

The mansion on Long Island’s north shore is being sold by James Mai, a financial guru who managed to foretell the 2008 banking crisis.   

The waterfront land land was originally purchased by Mary Harriman Rumsey in 1923. Mrs Rumsey was the founder of Junior League of the City of New York and daughter of EH Harriman, the railroad magnate, as well as the sister of W. Averell Harriman, former Governor of New York. 

A home that helped shape The Great Gatsby has gone on the market for $16.88 million

The 13-bedroom house at 235 Middle Neck Road is being sold by Sotheby's International Realty

The 13-bedroom house at 235 Middle Neck Road is being sold by Sotheby’s International Realty

It is believed that F. Scott Fitzgerald spent time at the house which in turn helped inspire him to write the novel, The Great Gatsby. The area on the Gold Coast of Long Island is largely considered to be 'Gatsby's East Egg'

It is believed that F. Scott Fitzgerald spent time at the house which in turn helped inspire him to write the novel, The Great Gatsby. The area on the Gold Coast of Long Island is largely considered to be ‘Gatsby’s East Egg’

If you have $16.88 million spare, you can purchase the inspiration for one of the greatest of Great American Novels

If you have $16.88 million spare, you can purchase the inspiration for one of the greatest of Great American Novels

She hired McKim, Mead and White as architects to design the French Normandy style castle, which was completed in 1928. 

Over the years Mrs Rumsey hosted many fabulous individuals at the estate, including her friend, F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

It is believed that the time he spent at the house helped inspire him to write the novel, The Great Gatsby. The area on the Gold Coast of Long Island is largely considered to be ‘Gatsby’s East Egg’.

In Gatsby, the Rumsey estate appears as Gatsby’s own house: ‘a colossal affair by any standard—it was a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden.’

A modern kitchen sees the owner equipped to cater to entertaining on a lavish scale with space for a pantry, wine room,and plenty of additional storage

A modern kitchen sees the owner equipped to cater to entertaining on a lavish scale with space for a pantry, wine room,and plenty of additional storage

The home was fully restored and renovated in 2013 by Harrison Design. The kitchen is now completely modern

The home was fully restored and renovated in 2013 by Harrison Design. The kitchen is now completely modern

Harrison Design restored and renovated the property after it was purchased by investor James Mai and his wife Chiara in 2012 for $6.675 million

Harrison Design restored and renovated the property after it was purchased by investor James Mai and his wife Chiara in 2012 for $6.675 million

One of the many living rooms is both airy and bright with a baby grand piano and calm furnishings

One of the many living rooms is both airy and bright with a baby grand piano and calm furnishings

The mansion on Long Island's north shore is being sold by James Mai, a financial guru who managed to foretell the 2008 banking crisis

The mansion on Long Island’s north shore is being sold by James Mai, a financial guru who managed to foretell the 2008 banking crisis

The French Normandy style castle was completed in 1928 and has recently undergone a huge gut renovation and restoration

The French Normandy style castle was completed in 1928 and has recently undergone a huge gut renovation and restoration

The original architects, McKim, Mead & White were responsible for building the old Penn Station, the Brooklyn Museum, and the main campus of Columbia University. 

Set majestically on 5.3 spectacular waterfront acres, and just 29 miles from Downtown Manhattan, the home is one of the one of the most iconic houses on the North Shore of Long Island.

The home was fully restored and renovated in 2013 by Harrison Design. 

‘Obviously, it’s so imposing—you drive down and see the sweeping views,’ said Nava Mitnick, a broker with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International who’s representing the property. ‘But when we entered the house, I described it as a ‘glorified cottage,’ because it’s so homey,’ Nava tells Bloomberg.

The room and the adjoining dining room overlook perfectly manicured lawns that roll down to the water's edge and a sandy beach on Long Island Sound

The room and the adjoining dining room overlook perfectly manicured lawns that roll down to the water’s edge and a sandy beach on Long Island Sound

The home is majestic in its location while also having a very homey, countrified feel about the place

The home is majestic in its location while also having a very homey, countrified feel about the place

A sunny spot, where you could just imagine Daisy Buchanan sipping champagne

A sunny spot, where you could just imagine Daisy Buchanan sipping champagne

A sunny spot, where you could just imagine Daisy Buchanan sipping champagne

The Mai family, which is selling the house, put millions into a gut renovation. 

Its French-Normandy style main house embodies an elegant and grand heritage.

Visitors proceed up a curved driveway before reaching the extraordinary property nestled within beautifully landscaped gardens. 

The landscaped courtyard leads to the an entrance, welcoming guests to the entertaining floor complete with a dramatic fireplace.

The room and the adjoining dining room overlook perfectly manicured lawns that roll down to the water’s edge and a sandy beach on Long Island Sound.

The plot allows homeowners to walk right down to the water's edge for some private rest and relaxation along a private beach

The plot allows homeowners to walk right down to the water’s edge for some private rest and relaxation along a private beach

There are unparalleled views of Long Island Sound stretching out beyond the green lawns

There are unparalleled views of Long Island Sound stretching out beyond the green lawns

Set majestically on 5.3 spectacular waterfront acres, and just 29 miles from Downtown Manhattan, the home is one of the one of the most iconic houses on the North Shore of Long Island

Set majestically on 5.3 spectacular waterfront acres, and just 29 miles from Downtown Manhattan, the home is one of the one of the most iconic houses on the North Shore of Long Island

The rolling lawns run towards the water's edge with 391 feet of private sandy beachfront on the Long Island Sound

The rolling lawns run towards the water’s edge with 391 feet of private sandy beachfront on the Long Island Sound

The landscaped courtyard leads to the an entrance, welcoming guests to the entertaining floor complete with a fireplace

The landscaped courtyard leads to the an entrance, welcoming guests to the entertaining floor complete with a fireplace

The view of the beach and Sound, from the rear portico with New York City in the distance some 29 miles away

The view of the beach and Sound, from the rear portico with New York City in the distance some 29 miles away

A spacious, tastefully modern kitchen and breakfast solarium are expertly equipped to cater to entertaining on a lavish scale

A spacious, tastefully modern kitchen and breakfast solarium are expertly equipped to cater to entertaining on a lavish scale

A modern kitchen sees the owner equipped to cater to entertaining on a lavish scale with space for a pantry, wine room,and plenty of additional storage.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is bathed natural light and features a marble fireplace, an impressive curved balcony overlooking the Sound, a massive walk-in closet and dressing room, and a windowed marble bathroom complete with a free-standing soaking tub. 

There are a further 12 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms on both the second floor and third floor.

Guests are welcomed to the entertaining floor anchored by an expansive living room complete with a dramatic fireplace

Guests are welcomed to the entertaining floor anchored by an expansive living room complete with a dramatic fireplace

The original, historically significant molding details and surfaces have been expertly restored while adapting the house to 21st century living

The original, historically significant molding details and surfaces have been expertly restored while adapting the house to 21st century living

The original, historically significant molding details and surfaces have been expertly restored while adapting the house to 21st century living

No expense has been spared or detail overlooked in the painstaking renovation that took three years which added every modern convenience and technology

No expense has been spared or detail overlooked in the painstaking renovation that took three years which added every modern convenience and technology

Artwork is appropriately placed around the property adding further elegance to the home

Artwork is appropriately placed around the property adding further elegance to the home

The calming colors of beige, grey and whites provide for upmarket appeal

Upstairs, the master bedroom is bathed natural light and features a marble fireplace, an impressive curved balcony overlooking the Sound

Upstairs, the master bedroom is bathed natural light and features a marble fireplace, an impressive curved balcony overlooking the Sound

No expense has been spared or detail overlooked in the painstaking renovation that took three years which added every modern convenience and technology.

The original, historically significant molding details and surfaces have been expertly restored while adapting the house to 21st century living.

The property also comes with a caretaker’s cottage with a six-car garage, an historic four-bedroom cottage on the beach, a boat house, and a tennis court with sweeping sunset and sunrise views over the water.

There are a further 12 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms on both the second floor and third floor

There are a further 12 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms on both the second floor and third floor

The master suite has a massive walk-in closet and dressing room, and a windowed marble bathroom complete with a free-standing soaking tub

The master suite has a massive walk-in closet and dressing room, and a windowed marble bathroom complete with a free-standing soaking tub

The master suite leads to an enormous dressing room and walk-in closet with plenty of storage space

The master suite leads to an enormous dressing room and walk-in closet with plenty of storage space

Children will be able to find a space of their own in their tastefully decorated rooms

Children will be able to find a space of their own in their tastefully decorated rooms

With plenty of space for bunk beds and train sets, children will love this mansion as much as their parents do

With plenty of space for bunk beds and train sets, children will love this mansion as much as their parents do

Its French-Normandy style main house embodies an elegant and grand heritage

Its French-Normandy style main house embodies an elegant and grand heritage

The property also comes with a caretaker's cottage with a six-car garage, an historic four-bedroom cottage on the beach, a boat house, and a tennis court with sweeping sunset and sunrise views over the water

The property also comes with a caretaker’s cottage with a six-car garage, an historic four-bedroom cottage on the beach, a boat house, and a tennis court with sweeping sunset and sunrise views over the water

There are plenty of places to relax in the open air while admiring sea views on the property

There are plenty of places to relax in the open air while admiring sea views on the property

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