Early Life and Marriage
Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Well, three months before I was born, my mother lost her other two children....I think I started then to be a writer."-F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his distant cousin who penned the Star-Spangled Banner. His father and mother, Edward and Mary (Mollie), were both Irish Catholics. Edward was a manufacturer, then a salesman, and after he lost his job, the Fitzgeralds lived off of Mollie's inheritance from her father's grocery business. Scott, as he was known, had two sisters that died shortly before he was born. Fitzgerald attended St. Paul's Academy, then the Catholic prep school, Newman School, in New Jersey. He briefly studied at Princeton University, then enlisted in the army in 1917. In June of 1918, he was stationed at Camp Sheridan, where he met Zelda Sayre, the daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge. They were engaged, but Zelda broke it off, unwilling to live on his meager salary. Shortly after the publication of This Side of Paradise made Fitzgerald famous, he married Zelda, and in October 1921, their first and only child, Frances Scott Fitzgerald, was born. Fitzgerald classified himself as part of the "Lost Generation" movement.
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his distant cousin who penned the Star-Spangled Banner. His father and mother, Edward and Mary (Mollie), were both Irish Catholics. Edward was a manufacturer, then a salesman, and after he lost his job, the Fitzgeralds lived off of Mollie's inheritance from her father's grocery business. Scott, as he was known, had two sisters that died shortly before he was born. Fitzgerald attended St. Paul's Academy, then the Catholic prep school, Newman School, in New Jersey. He briefly studied at Princeton University, then enlisted in the army in 1917. In June of 1918, he was stationed at Camp Sheridan, where he met Zelda Sayre, the daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge. They were engaged, but Zelda broke it off, unwilling to live on his meager salary. Shortly after the publication of This Side of Paradise made Fitzgerald famous, he married Zelda, and in October 1921, their first and only child, Frances Scott Fitzgerald, was born. Fitzgerald classified himself as part of the "Lost Generation" movement.
The Jazz Age
Hemingway and Fitzgerald
"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy." – The Crack Up
Fitzgerald went to Paris often during the "Roaring" 1920's, where he became good friends with fellow author Ernest Hemingway, who did not get along very well with Zelda. Fitzgerald also began to drink more during this time period, which led to alcoholism, although he wrote sober. In 1925, his most well-known novel, The Great Gatsby, was published.
“I think the novel is a wonder. I’m taking it home to read again and shall then write my impressions in full; — but it has vitality to an extraordinary degree, and glamour, and a great deal of underlying thought of unusual quality.” -Editor Maxwell Perkins on The Great Gatsby
To make enough money to support Zelda and Scottie (Frances), Fitzgerald sold short stories to magazines, which both Fitzgerald and Hemingway called "whoring." In 1930, Zelda was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and she was admitted to a hospital in Baltimore in 1932. After 9 years without any novels, Fitzgerald released his next book, Tender is the Night, which was, in the beginning, a failure but has since then gained popularity as his most moving novel.
Fitzgerald went to Paris often during the "Roaring" 1920's, where he became good friends with fellow author Ernest Hemingway, who did not get along very well with Zelda. Fitzgerald also began to drink more during this time period, which led to alcoholism, although he wrote sober. In 1925, his most well-known novel, The Great Gatsby, was published.
“I think the novel is a wonder. I’m taking it home to read again and shall then write my impressions in full; — but it has vitality to an extraordinary degree, and glamour, and a great deal of underlying thought of unusual quality.” -Editor Maxwell Perkins on The Great Gatsby
To make enough money to support Zelda and Scottie (Frances), Fitzgerald sold short stories to magazines, which both Fitzgerald and Hemingway called "whoring." In 1930, Zelda was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and she was admitted to a hospital in Baltimore in 1932. After 9 years without any novels, Fitzgerald released his next book, Tender is the Night, which was, in the beginning, a failure but has since then gained popularity as his most moving novel.
Later Years
F. Scott Fitzgerald
"First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you." -F. Scott Fitzgerald
Zelda and F. Scott became estranged, mainly due to her worsening schizophrenia and his worsening alcoholism. Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood, where he helped write movies and short commercials. It was in Hollywood that Fitzgerald fell in love with Sheilah Graham, a gossip columnist. Fitzgerald's health was worsening, and he claimed he had contracted tuberculosis, although it is under dispute as to whether or not the claim was made to cover up his drinking problems. Fitzgerald had two heart attacks during the 1930's, and on December 20, 1940, F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) at the age of 44. He left behind an unfinished fifth novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon, which was published posthumously in 1941.
“I like people and I like them to like me, but I wear my heart where God put it, on the inside.” – The Love of the Last Tycoon
Zelda and F. Scott became estranged, mainly due to her worsening schizophrenia and his worsening alcoholism. Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood, where he helped write movies and short commercials. It was in Hollywood that Fitzgerald fell in love with Sheilah Graham, a gossip columnist. Fitzgerald's health was worsening, and he claimed he had contracted tuberculosis, although it is under dispute as to whether or not the claim was made to cover up his drinking problems. Fitzgerald had two heart attacks during the 1930's, and on December 20, 1940, F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) at the age of 44. He left behind an unfinished fifth novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon, which was published posthumously in 1941.
“I like people and I like them to like me, but I wear my heart where God put it, on the inside.” – The Love of the Last Tycoon