F. Scott Fitzgerald - Author | Mini Bio | BIO

Biography

21 Sept 201203:44

Summary

TLDRF. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, captured the essence of the 1920s in works like *The Great Gatsby*. Born in 1896 in Minnesota, Fitzgerald's early writing passion led him to publish his first story at 13. His novel *This Side of Paradise* made him wealthy, allowing him to marry Zelda. *The Great Gatsby*, published in 1925, remains a defining American classic. Despite his later struggles with alcoholism and declining success, Fitzgerald's literary genius endures, with his beautifully crafted prose immortalizing the Jazz Age.

Takeaways

📚 F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, known for capturing the essence of America in the 1920s.
🖋️ He is best known for his novel 'The Great Gatsby,' regarded as one of the greatest novels of all time.
🏙️ Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 24, 1896, and published his first story at the age of 13 in a school newspaper.
🎓 At Princeton University, he wrote for musicals and humor magazines but had to leave after three years due to poor academic performance.
🎖️ Fitzgerald joined the Army during World War I but was never deployed overseas. During this time, he met his future wife, Zelda.
💍 His first novel, 'This Side of Paradise,' was a bestseller and led to his marriage with Zelda.
🎷 Fitzgerald coined the term 'The Jazz Age' to describe the 1920s, and his success in this period was substantial, selling over 50,000 copies of his novel.
🇫🇷 In 1924, Fitzgerald moved to France, where he wrote 'The Great Gatsby,' which has become a symbol of American culture.
📰 Throughout his career, he wrote 178 stories for magazines to financially support himself and his novels.
🍸 Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and depression, and despite his early success, he faced difficulties later in life. He died in 1940 while working on his final novel, 'The Last Tycoon.'

Q & A

Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
-F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, known for capturing the essence of 1920s America.
What is F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel?
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel is 'The Great Gatsby,' often considered one of the greatest American novels of all time.
When and where was F. Scott Fitzgerald born?
-F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
What was Fitzgerald’s first published work?
-Fitzgerald's first published work was a story in the school newspaper of St. Paul Academy when he was 13 years old.
How did F. Scott Fitzgerald’s time at Princeton University affect his writing?
-At Princeton, Fitzgerald wrote for musical plays and the Princeton Tiger humor magazine, but his academic performance suffered due to his devotion to writing, leading him to leave after three years.
How did F. Scott Fitzgerald's relationship with Zelda Sayre evolve?
-Fitzgerald met Zelda while stationed at Camp Sheridan during World War I. She initially refused to commit until he could financially support her, but after his first novel became successful, they married.
What was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel, and how was it received?
-Fitzgerald's first novel was 'This Side of Paradise,' published in 1920. It was an immediate bestseller and sold over 50,000 copies in the first year.
Why did F. Scott Fitzgerald move to France in 1924?
-Fitzgerald moved to France in 1924 to rekindle his creativity, which led to the writing of 'The Great Gatsby.'
How many short stories did F. Scott Fitzgerald publish during his career?
-F. Scott Fitzgerald published 178 stories in various magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post and Esquire.
What were some of the challenges Fitzgerald faced later in his career?
-Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism and depression, and watched as other writers like Ernest Hemingway gained more success, while his own later works did not match the success of 'The Great Gatsby.'
What was F. Scott Fitzgerald working on at the time of his death?
-At the time of his death, Fitzgerald was working on his unfinished novel, 'The Last Tycoon,' which was later published posthumously.

Outlines

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📚 F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Literary Icon of the 20th Century

F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely recognized as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, particularly known for capturing the spirit of 1920s America. His most famous work, *The Great Gatsby*, is considered one of the finest novels ever written. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 24, 1896, Fitzgerald showed early literary promise, publishing his first story at the age of 13 in his school newspaper. He continued writing during his time at Princeton, though his dedication to writing led to academic struggles. After leaving college and serving in the army during World War I, Fitzgerald moved to New York to pursue a writing career.

💍 Love and Marriage with Zelda

While stationed at Camp Sheridan during his time in the army, Fitzgerald met Zelda, the woman who would become his wife. However, Zelda was hesitant to marry him until he achieved financial stability. After being discharged from the army in 1919, Fitzgerald published his first novel, *This Side of Paradise*, which was an immediate bestseller and brought him wealth. Confident in his success, he asked Zelda to marry him, and the couple had a daughter, Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Their marriage and early life together reflected the glamour and excess of the 1920s, which Fitzgerald dubbed 'the Jazz Age.'

🇫🇷 Fitzgerald's Move to France and the Creation of The Great Gatsby

In 1924, Fitzgerald moved to France in search of new inspiration for his writing. A year later, he produced his most famous novel, *The Great Gatsby*. The term 'Gatsby' has since become synonymous with grandeur, decadence, and the American Dream. The novel was a success and remains a best-selling classic in American literature. Over his career, Fitzgerald wrote numerous stories for magazines such as *The Saturday Evening Post* and *Esquire*, which helped support his novel-writing efforts. Despite this, his later works never quite matched the critical and commercial success of *The Great Gatsby*.

📉 Struggles with Alcohol, Depression, and Declining Success

As Fitzgerald's career progressed, he faced significant personal and professional struggles. Despite early success, his subsequent novels, such as *Tender is the Night* (1934), failed to live up to the acclaim of *The Great Gatsby*. Fitzgerald battled alcoholism and depression, feeling overshadowed by his contemporaries like Ernest Hemingway. His later years were marked by financial instability and waning literary success, and he increasingly turned to writing short stories and screenplays to make ends meet.

🎥 Hollywood and Fitzgerald's Final Days

In 1937, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood to work as a screenwriter in an attempt to earn money quickly. Though he was never truly fulfilled by this work, it provided him with the income he needed to continue writing. He was working on his final novel, *The Last Tycoon*, when he died of a heart attack on December 21, 1940. His unfinished manuscript was later published posthumously. Fitzgerald's legacy endures through his profound impact on American literature, with his eloquent writing style and timeless themes continuing to resonate with readers today.

🌟 Fitzgerald's Enduring Literary Legacy

F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing remains cherished for its beauty and insight into the human condition. His masterful sentences, like the famous last line of *The Great Gatsby*—'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past'—are widely regarded as some of the finest in American literature. Fitzgerald's ability to capture the essence of American life, combined with his wit and stylistic grace, solidifies his status as one of the nation's greatest writers. His works continue to influence readers and writers alike, ensuring his place in the pantheon of literary greats.

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Keywords

💡F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald was a renowned American writer, famous for capturing the essence of the 1920s, particularly in his novel 'The Great Gatsby.' The video highlights his life, including his literary success and personal struggles, showcasing him as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

💡The Great Gatsby

'The Great Gatsby' is Fitzgerald's most famous novel, published in 1925. It is considered one of the greatest American novels, encapsulating the Jazz Age and the opulence, decadence, and disillusionment of 1920s America. The video emphasizes its lasting influence on American culture and its continued popularity.

💡Jazz Age

The 'Jazz Age' refers to the 1920s, a period of social and cultural upheaval in America. Fitzgerald coined this term and depicted this era in his works, especially in 'The Great Gatsby.' It was characterized by jazz music, economic prosperity, and the rise of a carefree, extravagant lifestyle, which Fitzgerald both celebrated and critiqued.

💡Zelda Fitzgerald

Zelda Fitzgerald was F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife and a central figure in his life. The video mentions her initial reluctance to marry him until he achieved financial stability. Their relationship was tumultuous, influenced by his literary success and personal challenges, such as alcoholism and depression.

💡Princeton

Fitzgerald attended Princeton University, where he wrote for the Princeton Tiger Humor Magazine and other literary outlets. His devotion to writing in college caused his academics to suffer, and he eventually left Princeton to join the army. This phase of his life shaped his early literary ambitions.

💡The Side of Paradise

Fitzgerald's first novel, 'The Side of Paradise,' published in 1920, brought him immediate success and financial stability. The video highlights how the success of this novel enabled him to marry Zelda and marked the beginning of his literary fame.

💡Alcoholism

Alcoholism was a significant struggle for Fitzgerald throughout his life. The video touches on how his addiction affected his health and career, particularly in contrast to his friends, such as Ernest Hemingway, who found more consistent success. This personal challenge adds depth to the narrative of his tragic life.

💡The Last Tycoon

Fitzgerald was working on his final novel, 'The Last Tycoon,' when he died in 1940. The video mentions how this unfinished work, later published posthumously, reflects his continuing ambition to write novels despite his declining health and career in Hollywood.

💡Hollywood

Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood in 1937 to write screenplays to make money quickly. The video notes that while he worked in Hollywood, he never gave up his true passion for writing novels. This phase of his life illustrates his financial struggles and dissatisfaction with the film industry.

💡Legacy

Fitzgerald's legacy as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century is emphasized in the video. His works, particularly 'The Great Gatsby,' continue to influence American culture and literature, and his style of writing, filled with beauty and depth, remains admired and studied today.

Highlights

F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the 20th century's greatest writers.

He perfectly captured America in the 1920s, becoming known as the voice of the Jazz Age.

Fitzgerald is the author of one of the greatest novels of all time, 'The Great Gatsby.'

He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 24th, 1896.

At age 13, he published his first story in the school newspaper of St. Paul Academy.

During his time at Princeton, he wrote musicals and pieces for the Princeton Tiger humor magazine.

Due to his devotion to writing in college, his academics suffered, and he left Princeton after three years to join the army.

Fitzgerald met his wife Zelda while stationed at Camp Sheridan in 1917, but she only agreed to marry him after he became wealthy from his writing.

In 1920, he published his first novel, 'This Side of Paradise,' which became an immediate bestseller.

His novel's success enabled him to marry Zelda, and they eventually had a daughter named Frances Scott Fitzgerald.

In 1924, Fitzgerald moved to France, where he wrote his greatest work, 'The Great Gatsby,' published in 1925.

The word 'Gatsby' has become part of American culture, symbolizing grand parties and wealth.

'The Great Gatsby' is still considered one of the biggest-selling American classics.

Fitzgerald wrote 178 stories during his career, publishing them in magazines like the Saturday Evening Post and Esquire.

Although Fitzgerald’s later novels, such as 'Tender Is the Night,' never matched the success of 'The Great Gatsby,' his writing remains timeless.

He struggled with alcoholism and depression, particularly as his friends like Ernest Hemingway achieved more success.

In 1937, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood to write screenplays for financial reasons, although he was never fond of the job.

He was halfway through his final novel, 'The Last Tycoon,' when he died of a heart attack on December 21st, 1940.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s prose is celebrated for its beauty, such as the famous closing line of 'The Great Gatsby': 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.'

He is remembered as a writer who captured the essence of America with wit and elegance, making him one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.