Book Club - Author Spotlight
On this day in 1920, F. Scott Fitzgerald had his first book published, This Side of Paradise.
He started the novel while at Princeton. After three years in college, he left to join the military. While stationed in Alabama, he met Zelda Sayre, daughter of a Supreme Court justice. At the time, she rejected him, afraid he wouldn't be able to support her.
He moved back to New York and finished his work, becoming the youngest author ever published by Scribner's. Now with fame and fortune, he convinced Zelda to marry him.
In 1922, he completed his second novel, The Beautiful and Damned.
While in Europe (1925), he wrote The Great Gatsby, which was then followed by Tender is the Night. During this time, Zelda's mental health deteriorated, a theme seen in the book. It was published in 1934.
Fitzgerald passed away in 1940, leaving behind a fifth unfinished novel, The Last Tycoon, which was released posthumously.
He wrote 178 short stories in his lifetime, and I recently completed "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which I mentioned back in February, from Tales of the Jazz Age.
So I may start another short as we wait for April Shakespeare. :-)
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