F SCOTT FITZGERALD An author biography Background Francis

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD An author biography

Background Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 24, 1896. He attended Princeton University where he wrote amateur musical comedies. Fitzgerald won fame and fortune for his first novel, This Side of Paradise, in 1920. In 1920 he married his long time love, Zelda. They had one child, Frances Scott Fitzgerald in 1921. The Fitzgerald's spent time in Europe and in America, as both Scott and Zelda wrote.

Fitzgerald became popular at a young age and some critics agree that his early success damaged his personal life and literary production. His success led to extravagant living and a need for a large income. He was a known alcoholic. Fitzgerald became sick and had a physical and spiritual collapse around 1936. He was living in Hollywood, Zelda was in New York. Their relationship deteriorated although they never divorced. He spent his final years as a scriptwriter in Hollywood and died on December 21, 1940 of a heart attack.

The Great Gatsby was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece novel, published in 1925. When it first came out the novel was not as popular as his others. The Great Gatsby gained popularity after Fitzgerald’s death. This novel represented the moral emptiness Fitzgerald saw in wealthy American society of the 1920’s. Wrote the novel while spending time in Europe. During this time, Fitzgerald made friends with Ernest Hemmingway (famous American author). Fitzgerald was the leading writer of America’s Jazz Age.

Works Cited Coale, Ph. D, Samuel Chase. “F. Scott Fitzgerald. ” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2007. Web. Nov. 20, 2010.