-
His name meaning
He is named after Francis Scott Key. Who wrote the lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner”. Fitzgerald’s father later takes a job that moves the family to New York. -
Where born?
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald is born in St. Paul, Minnesota. -
First Novel
Attends St. Paul Academy. And he publishes his first piece of writing, at the age of 13. The piece is a detective story published in the school newspaper. -
Meets his father
Fitzgerald attends a Catholic preparatory school in Hackensack, New Jersey. He meets Father Sigourney Fay, who recognizes Fitzgerald’s literary talent and encourages him to pursue writing. -
Joins the army
He joins the army. He then meets Zelda Sayre, daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge. They become engaged, but she broke off the engagement because of small salary. -
Moves back to New York
Fitzgerald moves to New York City after Zelda breaks off their engagement. He returns to St. Paul and works on a novel that he had been writing during his time in the army. -
First Book!
His first book This Side of Paradise, is published. The novel brings him a lot of money and he becomes known. He marries Zelda in April. They become a couple. -
Second Novel!
Fitzgerald’s second novel The Beautiful and Damned is published. Tales of the Jazz Age a collection of short stories is also published. -
Had daughter 1921
The Fitzgeralds, along with their daughter named Francis all together leave for France. After spending some time in Paris, the family moves to the Riviera. -
The Great Gatsby
While in France he finishes his masterpiece The Great Gatsby. After the success of this book, he writes several short stories. -
His best work (The Great Gatsby)
Widely is considered his greatest work, The Great Gatsby is set in the Jazz Age a term popularized by Fitzgerald. A story about the promise and failure of the American Dream. -
Gets drinking problem
After The Great Gatsby is published. Fitzgerald’s got a drinking problem and Zelda suffers a mental breakdown in 1930. She spends the next year in European clinics. After she is released in 1931, they move back to the United States. She has a second breakdown in 1932 from which she never fully recovers. She publishes her first and only novel, Save Me the Waltz, which is based on the Fitzgeralds’ troubled marriage. -
Last Novel!
Fitzgerald’s last novel Tender Is the Night is published. -
Falls in love with Sheilah Graham
Zelda enters Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. In 1937 Fitzgerald moves to Hollywood and becomes a scriptwriter. He meets and falls in love with Sheilah Graham, a famous Hollywood gossip columnist. In 1939 he begins writing a novel about Hollywood entitled The Last Tycoon. -
Died.
Fitzgerald dies of a heart attack in Hollywood. The Last Tycoon is published in the year after his death.