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Born, September 24 1896- St. Paul, Minnesota
Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to a middle-class family. His birth marked the beginning of a life that would leave a lasting mark on American literature. -
1913, Enters Princeton University
Fitzgerald began attending Princeton University, where he developed a love for writing and literature. He struggled academically but became active in the college’s social scene and literary clubs. -
1917: Joins the Army during World War I
Fitzgerald enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I, though he never saw combat. His experiences in the army, and the loss of his chance for a romantic relationship with Zelda Sayre, greatly impacted his later writing. -
1919: Publishes First Novel, This Side of Paradise
Fitzgerald's debut novel, This Side of Paradise, was published and became an immediate success. It captured the disillusionment and confusion of post-World War I youth, making Fitzgerald famous. -
1919: Marries Zelda Sayre
Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre, a Southern belle, after a long courtship. Their tumultuous relationship would inspire much of his writing, though it also caused personal difficulties. -
1922: Publishes The Beautiful and Damned
Fitzgerald’s second novel, The Beautiful and Damned, was published. It explored themes of wealth, love, and moral decay, reflecting Fitzgerald’s own struggles with fame and fortune. -
1924: Moves to France and Begins Writing The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald moved to Paris with Zelda in 1924, where he began writing The Great Gatsby. The novel would go on to become one of the most important works in American literature, though it was not immediately successful. -
1925: Publishes The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby, which focused on the American Dream and the Jazz Age. Despite its lack of initial success, the novel would later be recognized as his masterpiece. -
1927: Zelda’s Mental Health Declines
Zelda Fitzgerald’s mental health worsened, leading to several hospitalizations. This strained their marriage and had a significant impact on Fitzgerald’s personal life and writing. -
1930: Publishes Tender Is the Night
Fitzgerald published Tender Is the Night, a semi-autobiographical novel about the breakdown of a marriage. The novel received mixed reviews but showed his deepening understanding of personal and social conflict. -
1934: Zelda is Diagnosed with Schizophrenia
Zelda was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was admitted to a mental hospital. Fitzgerald’s own writing and health were deeply affected by the stress of her illness. -
1937: Moves to Hollywood
Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood to work as a screenwriter. While he wrote several scripts, he struggled with the Hollywood lifestyle and found little professional success. -
1939: Publishes The Last Tycoon (unfinished)
Fitzgerald began writing The Last Tycoon, a novel about the movie industry, but he died before completing it. The unfinished manuscript was published posthumously and is often considered one of his last great works. -
Posthumous Recognition
After Fitzgerald's death, his works gained greater recognition. Today, he is considered one of the greatest American writers, with The Great Gatsby hailed as a classic of 20th-century literature. -
December 21, 1940: Death of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald died of a heart attack at the age of 44, largely due to the strain of his personal and professional life. By then, his works were largely forgotten, though they would later experience a revival.