5 Fascinating Facts about F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald was named after his famous second cousin, Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the US national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but his life and writings were heavily influenced by the vibrant culture and energy of 1920s New York City.

Despite being one of the most celebrated American authors of the 20th century, Fitzgerald struggled financially throughout his life and relied on advance payments from publishers to support himself and his family.

The Great Gatsby, arguably Fitzgerald’s most famous novel, did not become a commercial success until years after his death.

Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, were known for their extravagant and glamorous lifestyle, often partying with other famous writers and artists of the time.

Fitzgerald’s love for alcohol became a destructive force in his life and heavily influenced his writing. He famously said, First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you.

Despite his own struggles, Fitzgerald actively supported his friend and fellow writer, Ernest Hemingway, by encouraging him to keep writing during difficult times.

Fitzgerald was fascinated by the idea of the American Dream and its impact on individuals. This theme is prominently explored in many of his works, including The Great Gatsby.

Fitzgerald’s novel, This Side of Paradise, which was published when he was only 23, brought him almost overnight fame and success.

5 Fascinating Facts about F. Scott Fitzgerald part 2

He once wrote a short story titled The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which was later adapted into a film starring Brad Pitt.

Fitzgerald’s works often depicted the excesses of the Jazz Age and the moral decay of the post-World War I society.

He and his wife Zelda Fitzgerald were famous for their tumultuous relationship, which often involved excessive partying, affairs, and periods of separation.

Fitzgerald was heavily influenced by his wife Zelda’s struggles with mental health, incorporating her experiences into his writing.

At one point in his life, Fitzgerald worked for a short period as a screenwriter in Hollywood, but he found the experience unfulfilling and frustrating.

Fitzgerald had a complex relationship with his mother, who was overbearing and critical of his writing but later became a source of inspiration for his novel, Tender Is the Night.

Fitzgerald was passionate about his craft and was known to meticulously revise and rewrite his works multiple times before considering them complete.

He coined the term the Jazz Age, which is still widely used today to describe the cultural and societal changes that occurred during the 1920s.

Fitzgerald was commissioned by Esquire magazine to write an article about what he considered to be the crack-up of his own life, exploring his personal struggles and failures.

The character of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby is often seen as a reflection of Fitzgerald himself, embodying his desire for wealth, love, and success.

Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda had a daughter named Frances Scott Fitzgerald, known as Scottie, who later became a respected writer and journalist.

He was known for his sharp wit and clever turn of phrase. Some of Fitzgerald’s most famous quotes include I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool and The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.

Fitzgerald’s writing style was characterized by vivid descriptions, lyrical prose, and a keen eye for social observation.

He was passionate about exploring themes of love, loss, and the disillusionment that often comes with chasing after unattainable dreams.

Tragically, Fitzgerald died of a heart attack at the age of 44, believing himself to be a failure and forgotten by the literary world. However, his works experienced a revival and critical acclaim in the years that followed.

Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda are buried side by side in Rockville Union Cemetery in Maryland, a testament to their complex and enduring love story.

Fitzgerald left behind an unfinished novel titled The Last Tycoon, which was published posthumously and later adapted into a film and a television series.

In addition to his novels, Fitzgerald also wrote many short stories, such as The Diamond as Big as the Ritz and Bernice Bobs Her Hair, which became widely anthologized and studied in schools.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was known to have a deep admiration for the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and often drew inspiration from his dark and mysterious storytelling style.

Fitzgerald had a passion for the arts beyond writing and was an avid painter and photographer.

His literary works were heavily influenced by his experiences as a soldier during World War I, where he witnessed firsthand the devastation and disillusionment of war.

Fitzgerald wrote an essay titled The Crack-Up for Esquire magazine, where he famously stated, In a real dark night of the soul, it is always three o’clock in the morning.

Despite his own struggles with alcohol, Fitzgerald pushed for alcohol prohibition during the Prohibition era, believing it to be a destructive force in society.

His novel, The Great Gatsby, was initially met with mixed reviews, with some critics dismissing it as shallow and lacking substance. However, it has since been recognized as one of the greatest American novels of all time.

Fitzgerald’s writings often explored the themes of class and social status, examining the divide between the rich and the poor and the aspirations and disillusionments of those chasing after wealth and success.

Fitzgerald drew inspiration from his own circle of friends and colleagues, many of whom were prominent artists, writers, and socialites of the time, including Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Dorothy Parker.

His works were heavily influenced by the writings of other literary giants such as William Shakespeare, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Mark Twain.

Fitzgerald was a master of symbolism, using recurring motifs such as the green light in The Great Gatsby to represent hope and the pursuit of dreams.

He was ambitious and dreamed of achieving literary success from a young age, submitting poems and stories to magazines as early as his teenage years.

Fitzgerald’s first love was a wealthy socialite named Ginevra King, who later became the inspiration for many of his female characters.

His novel Tender Is the Night was semi-autobiographical, drawing heavily from his own experiences with love, mental health struggles, and the breakdown of his marriage.

Fitzgerald was known to frequent the famous Plaza Hotel in New York City, where he and his wife Zelda held legendary parties and gatherings.

He had a complicated relationship with Hollywood and the film industry, with several of his works being adapted into films both during his lifetime and after his death.

Fitzgerald was a meticulous researcher and obsessed with historical accuracy, often immersing himself in the time periods he was writing about to ensure authenticity.

Despite his struggles with fame and fortune, Fitzgerald remains an iconic figure in American literature, known for his ability to capture the essence of a generation and explore the human condition.

Fitzgerald’s works continue to be studied and celebrated today, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest American writers of all time.