Biography of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald:
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, commonly known as F. Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for his iconic novel "The Great Gatsby." He was a prominent figure of the Jazz Age, a term he coined to describe the flamboyant and prosperous years that symbolized the Roaring Twenties in the United States.
Biography of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald |
Here is a brief biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Early Life of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald:
1. Birth: F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
2. Family Background: He came from an upper-middle-class Catholic family. His father, Edward Fitzgerald, was a failed wicker furniture salesman with a history of financial setbacks.
Education:
1. Fitzgerald attended the Newman School, a Catholic prep school in New Jersey.
2. He entered Princeton University in 1913 but dropped out before completing his degree to join the U.S. Army during World War I.
Zelda Sayre and Marriage:
1. Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre, a popular and spirited Southern belle, in Montgomery, Alabama.
2. Their courtship and the challenges they faced in getting married became a significant influence on Fitzgerald's life and writing.
Literary Career of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald:
1. Fitzgerald achieved early success with his debut novel, "This Side of Paradise" (1920), which explored the lives and morals of the post-World War I youth.
2. He became a prominent figure of the literary scene during the 1920s, along with other writers of the Lost Generation.
3. Fitzgerald's most famous work, "The Great Gatsby," was published in 1925 and is considered a masterpiece of American literature. Despite its initial mixed reception, it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
4. Other notable works include "The Beautiful and Damned" (1922), "Tender Is the Night" (1934), and "The Last Tycoon" (unfinished at the time of his death).
Personal Life of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald:
1. Fitzgerald and Zelda's extravagant lifestyle, marked by parties and excesses, became emblematic of the Jazz Age.
2. The couple faced financial challenges, with Fitzgerald struggling to support his family through his writing.
3. Zelda's mental health deteriorated, and she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her struggles had a profound impact on Fitzgerald's personal and creative life.
Later Years:
1. Fitzgerald spent time in Hollywood working as a screenwriter but faced challenges adapting to the studio system.
2. He struggled with alcoholism, and his health declined in the late 1930s.
Death of Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald:
1. F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a heart attack on December 21, 1940, in Hollywood, California, at the age of 44.
2. Despite his early death, Fitzgerald's literary legacy has endured, and his works are celebrated for their exploration of the American Dream, societal expectations, and the Jazz Age.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's writings continue to be widely read and studied, and he remains a key figure in American literature. His portrayal of the American Dream and the complex realities of the human experience resonates with readers across generations.