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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Birth
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born as Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald in St. Paul, Minnesota to his parents Edward and Molly. -
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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Life
The main events of famous American author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. -
Time at Princeton and Joining the Army
Fitzgerald was a member of Princeton’s class of 1917. However, he neglected his academics to focus on his literary interests. He participated in the Princeton Tiger humor magazine. Because of his failure at academics, Fitzgerald was put on academic probation and became motivated to join the army. -
The Romantic Egotist
Fitzgerald’s first novel, which he wrote soon after joining the army. This novel was rejected by Charles Scribnors Sons. -
Army Assignment and Zelda Sayer
Fitzgerald was assigned to Camp Sheridan in Alabama in June of 1918. This is where he met Zelda Sayer, the daughter of one of Alabama’s Supreme Court Judges. -
Returning to St. Paul
In July of 1919, Fitzgerald quit his job and returned to St. Paul. In St. Paul, Fitzgerald would rewrite his novel, now dubbed “This Side of Paradise”. -
Getting Discharged and Going to New York
Fitzgerald was discharged in 1919 and sought out New York City to generate a fortune so he could marry Zelda. Zelda, however, broke off the engagement because she was unwilling to live off Fitzgerald’s small salary. -
The Saturday Evening Post
Towards the end of 1919, Fitzgerald would start writing stories for large magazines, such as the Saturday Evening Post. This would become the best market for his stories. -
This Side of Paradise
The rewritten novel would be set mainly at Princeton and followed Amory Blaine. This Side of Paradise was accepted by an editor named Maxwell Perkins, who worked for Scribnors, in September of 1919. -
Publishing his Debut Novel and Marriage
Soon after This Side of Paradise was published, Fitzgerald and Zelda would be married in New York City. -
The Beautiful and Damned
After moving to New York City with Zelda, Fitzgerald wrote his sophomore novel, The Beautiful and Damned. This second novel showed the New York Cafe society during the Jazz Age. -
Pregnancy
One year after their marriage, Zelda would fall pregnant. This motivated the two to go back to St. Paul, where their only child, Frances Scott “Scottie” Fitzgerald, was born in October of 1921. -
Moving to Long Island
In the fall of 1922, the small family would move to Great Neck, Long Island to be near broadway as Fitzgerald wrote a play entitled “The Vegetable”. The play failed and to escape his debts, Fitzgerald wrote short stories. -
The Great Gatsby
In the spring of 1924 Fitzgerald would write The Great Gatsby while in France. And during the winter of 1924-25, he would revise it while in Rome. The novel would be published while the family was en route to Paris. This novel would receive critical praise, however the sales were lackluster. The family would remain in France until the end of 1926. -
Return to America
To get back to work and leave the distractions of France behind, the Fitzgerald’s would rent out a mansion in Delaware for two years. During this time, Zelda would begin ballet in hopes of becoming a professional dancer. -
Return to France
In the spring of 1929, the family would go to Paris again. Zelda would undergo intense ballet training that would damage her health. -
Zelda’s First Breakdown
In April of 1930, Zelda would have her first breakdown. She would be treated at Pragins Clinic in Switzerland until September of 1931. During this time, Fitzgerald would stop working on his novel to write short stories to pay for Zelda’s treatment. -
Yet Another Return to America and Zelda’s Relapse
In the fall of 1931, the family returned to America. However, a year later, Zelda relapsed and began treatment at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. -
Tender Is The Night
Fitzgerald would complete his fourth novel, Tender Is The Night, in 1934. This novel would follow the deteriorating relationship between an American psychiatrist and a wealthy patient. The novel mirrored Zelda and Fitzgerald’s relationship during the time it was written. -
The “Crack-Up Years”
Between 1936 and ‘37, Fitzgerald suffered from alcoholism and was unable to write commercial stories. This period became known as the “crack-up years”. -
Going to Hollywood
In the summer of 1937, until 1938, Fitzgerald lived in Hollywood alone to work as a screenwriter with MGM. After which he would begin working as a freelance scriptwriter for Esquire. -
Last Novel and Death
In 1939, Fitzgerald began working on The Love of the Last Tycoon, his final work which he would never finished. On December 21st, 1940, Fitzgerald would suffer a heart attack and die. He completed over half of the draft for The Love of the Last Tycoon -
Edmund Wilson
Literary critic, Edmund Wilson, would revive interest for The Great Gatsby in 1951. This would end up making The Great Gatsby a 20th Century American classic. Fitzgerald is now regarded as one of the greatest American authors of all time.