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Who Was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a renowned American novelist and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential authors in American literature. His reputation is primarily anchored in the posthumous success of his third novel, The Great Gatsby, which is often considered the quintessential American novel. A vivid portrayal of the Jazz Age, The Great Gatsby has transcended generations, becoming a staple of American high school curricula and captivating readers with its exploration of ambition, love, and social stratification.
Fitzgerald first gained fame at the age of 24 with the success of his debut novel, This Side of Paradise. This literary achievement was quickly followed by his marriage to Zelda Sayre, his muse and the woman he deeply loved. However, the 1920s saw Fitzgerald’s personal life unravel, marked by his struggles with alcoholism and Zelda’s mental health issues. Despite the critical failure of his subsequent novel, Tender Is the Night, Fitzgerald’s career shifted towards Hollywood, where he worked as a screenwriter. He died of a heart attack in 1940 at the age of 44, with his final novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon, left unfinished.
Family, Education, and Early Life
Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his distant relative, Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star-Spangled Banner. His mother, Mary McQuillan, came from an Irish-Catholic family that made its fortune in wholesale groceries in Minnesota. His father, Edward Fitzgerald, initially worked in the wicker furniture business, but after its failure, he became a salesman for Procter & Gamble. The Fitzgerald family relocated several times during Scott’s childhood, moving between Buffalo and Syracuse in New York, before settling in St. Paul in 1908 after Edward lost his job.
From an early age, Fitzgerald exhibited a sharp intellect and a flair for writing. He attended the St. Paul Academy, where, at the age of 13, he saw his first piece of writing published in the school newspaper. In 1911, Fitzgerald moved to the prestigious Newman School in New Jersey, where he was mentored by Father Sigourney Fay, who recognized his literary talent and encouraged him to pursue writing.
After graduating from Newman School in 1913, Fitzgerald enrolled at Princeton University, where he immersed himself in writing. He contributed to the Triangle Club musicals, the Princeton Tiger humor magazine, and the Nassau Literary Magazine. Despite his passion for writing, Fitzgerald’s academic performance suffered, and in 1917, he dropped out of Princeton to join the U.S. Army amidst World War I. In the months before reporting for duty, Fitzgerald hastily wrote The Romantic Egotist, a novel that was initially rejected by the publisher but praised for its originality, encouraging him to continue his literary pursuits.
Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, Fitzgerald was stationed at Camp Sheridan in Alabama. However, the war ended in November 1918 before he saw combat. After his discharge, Fitzgerald moved to New York City to pursue a career in advertising, hoping to earn enough money to convince his girlfriend, Zelda, to marry him. Disappointed with his job, Fitzgerald quit after a few months and returned to St. Paul to focus on rewriting his novel, setting the stage for his literary career.
Books
This Side of Paradise (1920)
This Side of Paradise is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores themes of love, ambition, and disillusionment. The protagonist, Amory Blaine, is a young, ambitious Midwesterner who navigates the complexities of relationships, particularly with two women from wealthy families, only to face rejection. Upon its publication in 1920, the novel garnered critical acclaim, catapulting F. Scott Fitzgerald to fame at the age of 24. The novel’s success marked the beginning of his career, which was marked by a new-found celebrity status. However, Fitzgerald’s extravagant lifestyle as a socialite, coupled with his playboy image, soon hindered his reputation as a serious literary figure.
The Beautiful and Damned (1922)
Fitzgerald’s second novel, The Beautiful and Damned, was published in 1922 and delves into the turbulent marriage of Anthony and Gloria Patch. This work further solidified Fitzgerald’s place as a sharp observer of the excesses and moral decay of the Jazz Age—a period he described as “an age of miracles, an age of art, an age of excess, and an age of satire.” The novel portrays the destructive nature of wealth and ambition during the roaring 1920s, contributing to Fitzgerald’s reputation as one of the era’s greatest social commentators.
The Great Gatsby (1925)
Widely regarded as Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby (1925) is a lyrical and poignant critique of the American Dream and the materialism of the Jazz Age. Narrated by Nick Carraway, the novel unfolds in the fictional town of West Egg, where Nick becomes entangled in the life of the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who pines for Daisy Buchanan, a married woman. Despite Gatsby’s tragic demise, the novel presents a stark examination of desire, illusion, and disillusionment. Initially met with mixed reviews, the book gained critical recognition posthumously and is now considered one of the greatest American novels, emblematic of the “Roaring Twenties.”
Tender Is the Night (1934)
After years of personal and professional struggles, Fitzgerald published Tender Is the Night in 1934. The novel, inspired by the turbulent mental health challenges of his wife, Zelda, portrays the psychological deterioration of Dick Diver, an American psychiatrist, and his troubled marriage to his wealthy patient, Nicole. While the novel’s disjointed narrative and initial commercial failure clouded its reception, Tender Is the Night has since become recognized as one of the defining works of American literature.
The Love of the Last Tycoon (unfinished)
Fitzgerald began his final novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon, in 1939, and completed over half of the manuscript before his untimely death in 1940. The novel, which reflects his insights into Hollywood and the entertainment industry, was published posthumously and remains unfinished, providing a glimpse into Fitzgerald’s late career and evolving literary style.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Short Stories
In addition to his novels, Fitzgerald was a prolific short story writer, contributing to popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post and Esquire. His notable stories include “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Camel’s Back,” and “The Last of the Belles,” among others. These stories not only showcase his versatility but also capture the social and cultural shifts of his time.
Fitzgerald’s Wife, Zelda Sayre
Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre on April 3, 1920. Zelda, a Southern belle from Alabama, was a key influence on Fitzgerald’s work, with her character and struggles reflected in his novels, including This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, The Great Gatsby, and Tender Is the Night. Their marriage, often turbulent, was marked by Zelda’s battle with mental illness, which deeply affected both her life and Fitzgerald’s work. After suffering a breakdown in 1930, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent the remaining years of her life in and out of mental health facilities before her death in 1948.
Later Years
Following the publication of The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s life took a downward turn. His struggles with alcoholism worsened, and he faced long periods of writer’s block. In 1937, Fitzgerald relocated to Hollywood, where he attempted to restart his career as a screenwriter. While he achieved some financial success in this field, his critical recognition remained limited. His personal and professional life continued to unravel, and he spent his final years in relative obscurity.
Death
F. Scott Fitzgerald passed away on December 21, 1940, from a heart attack at the age of 44 in Hollywood. At the time of his death, Fitzgerald believed himself to be a failure, as his works had not achieved widespread commercial success or critical acclaim during his lifetime. However, his legacy has since been firmly established, and he is now regarded as one of the most significant American writers of the 20th century.