F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

September 24, 1896: Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald September 24, 1896: Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesotawas born in St. Paul, Minnesota

His father, Edward Fitzgerald failed as a manufacturer of wicker furniture in His father, Edward Fitzgerald failed as a manufacturer of wicker furniture in St. Paul, and he became a salesman for Procter & Gamble in upstate New St. Paul, and he became a salesman for Procter & Gamble in upstate New York. After he was dismissed in 1908, when his son was twelve, the family York. After he was dismissed in 1908, when his son was twelve, the family returned to St. Paul and lived comfortably on his mother, Mollie Fitzgerald's returned to St. Paul and lived comfortably on his mother, Mollie Fitzgerald's inheritance. Fitzgerald attended the St. Paul Academy; his first writing to inheritance. Fitzgerald attended the St. Paul Academy; his first writing to appear in print was a detective story in the school newspaper when he was appear in print was a detective story in the school newspaper when he was thirteenthirteen

Fitzgerald went to Princeton University, but did not graduateFitzgerald went to Princeton University, but did not graduate

1917: Fitzgerald joined the army and was commissioned a second lieutenant 1917: Fitzgerald joined the army and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantryin the infantry

Fitzgerald Meets Zelda!Fitzgerald Meets Zelda! 1918: Fitzgerald was assigned to Camp 1918: Fitzgerald was assigned to Camp

Sheridan, near Montgomery, AlabamaSheridan, near Montgomery, Alabama

Fell in love with Zelda Sayre, the youngest Fell in love with Zelda Sayre, the youngest daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judgedaughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge

1919: The war ended just before Fitzgerald 1919: The war ended just before Fitzgerald was to be sent overseaswas to be sent overseas

He went to New York City to seek his fortune, He went to New York City to seek his fortune, but Zelda was unwilling to wait and broke but Zelda was unwilling to wait and broke their engagement. their engagement.

1919: Fitzgerald worked to create a publishable work 1919: Fitzgerald worked to create a publishable work

March 26, 1920: The publication of March 26, 1920: The publication of This Side of This Side of ParadiseParadise made the twenty-four-year-old Fitzgerald made the twenty-four-year-old Fitzgerald famous almost overnight, and a week later he married famous almost overnight, and a week later he married Zelda in New YorkZelda in New York

They embarked on an extravagant life as young They embarked on an extravagant life as young celebrities celebrities

Fitzgerald’s endeavored to earn a solid literary Fitzgerald’s endeavored to earn a solid literary reputation but playboy image his impeded the proper reputation but playboy image his impeded the proper assessment of his work assessment of his work

October 1921: birth of their only child October 1921: birth of their only child Frances Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald was bornFrances Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald was born

Making Making The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby Spring of 1924: The Fitzgeralds went to France seeking Spring of 1924: The Fitzgeralds went to France seeking

tranquility so that Fitzgerald could complete his noveltranquility so that Fitzgerald could complete his novel

Fitzgerald wrote Fitzgerald wrote The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby during the summer and during the summer and fall in Valescure near St. Raphael, at the same time his fall in Valescure near St. Raphael, at the same time his marriage was being damaged by Zelda's involvement with a marriage was being damaged by Zelda's involvement with a French naval aviatorFrench naval aviator

1924-1925: The Fitzgeralds went to Rome, where he revised 1924-1925: The Fitzgeralds went to Rome, where he revised and then published and then published The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald's achievement received critical praise, but sales of Fitzgerald's achievement received critical praise, but sales of Gatsby were disappointingGatsby were disappointing

The American DreamThe American Dream February 1932: Zelda had had a nervous breakdown in 1930 and February 1932: Zelda had had a nervous breakdown in 1930 and

suffered a relapse in 1932. She entered Johns Hopkins Hospital in suffered a relapse in 1932. She entered Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore where she spent the rest of her life as a resident or Baltimore where she spent the rest of her life as a resident or outpatient of sanitariums outpatient of sanitariums

December 21, 1940: F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a heart attackDecember 21, 1940: F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a heart attack

Fitzgerald believed himself somewhat of a failure, and his work was, Fitzgerald believed himself somewhat of a failure, and his work was, for the most part, neglected for the most part, neglected

The Fitzgerald revival occurred between 1945 and 1950The Fitzgerald revival occurred between 1945 and 1950

By 1960 Fitzgerald had achieved a secure place among America's By 1960 Fitzgerald had achieved a secure place among America's enduring writers—among many reasons--because enduring writers—among many reasons--because The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby is is a work that examines the theme of the American Dreama work that examines the theme of the American Dream

Fitzgerald The WriterFitzgerald The Writer

Critics were reluctant to accord Fitzgerald full marks as a serious Critics were reluctant to accord Fitzgerald full marks as a serious craftsman due to his reputation as a drinker and “playboy” craftsman due to his reputation as a drinker and “playboy”

His reputation perpetuated the myth that he was an irresponsible His reputation perpetuated the myth that he was an irresponsible writer; yet he was a painstaking reviser whose fiction went through writer; yet he was a painstaking reviser whose fiction went through layers of drafts. layers of drafts.

When critics objected to Fitzgerald's concern with love and success, his When critics objected to Fitzgerald's concern with love and success, his response was: "But, my God! it was my material, and it was all I had to response was: "But, my God! it was my material, and it was all I had to deal with." deal with."

Fitzgerald became identified with The Jazz Age because it was the age Fitzgerald became identified with The Jazz Age because it was the age in which he lived and wrote and he so accurately understood that “it in which he lived and wrote and he so accurately understood that “it was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.”it was an age of satire.”