F. Scott Fitzgerald Background Research

  • Birth Date

    Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in Minnesota
  • Period: to

    1908-1909

    Fitzgerald attends St. Paul Academy, and it is there that he publishes his first piece of writing, at the age of 13.
  • Period: to

    1911-1913

    Fitzgerald attends the Newman School, a Catholic preparatory school in Hackensack, New Jersey. He meets Father Sigourney Fay, who encourages him to pursue writing.
  • 1913-1918

    1913-1918
    Princeton University
  • Period: to

    1913-1918

    Fitzgerald enters Princeton University. In 1917 he enlists in the army, and meets Zelda Sayre, they become engaged.
  • 1919

    Fitzgerald moves to New York City. After Zelda breaks off their engagement, he works on a novel he had been writing in the army.
  • 1920

    1920
    His first book, This Side of Paradise, is published. The novel brings him fame and money. He marries Zelda in April. They become a celebrated couple.
  • Period: to

    1922

    Fitzgerald’s second novel, The Beautiful and Damned, is published. Tales of the Jazz Age, a collection of short stories, is also published.
  • 1924

    The Fitzgeralds, along with their daughter, Francis who had been born in 1921, leave for France.
  • 1925

    While in France, Fitzgerald completes his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby.
  • Period: to

    1930-32

    After The Great Gatsby is published, Fitzgerald’s drinking becomes excessive, and Zelda suffers a mental breakdown in 1930.
  • 1934

    1934
    Fitzgerald’s last completed novel, Tender Is the Night, is published.
  • 1937

    In 1937 Fitzgerald moves to Hollywood and becomes a scriptwriter. He meets and falls in love with Sheilah Graham, a famous Hollywood gossip columnist.
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald Dies

    Fitzgerald dies of a heart attack in Hollywood on December 21, 1940.
  • 1941

    1941
    The Last Tycoon is published in the year after his death.