1. Early Life and Education:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald was born Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- He was the only son of Edward Fitzgerald and Mary "Mollie" McQuillan Fitzgerald.
- Fitzgerald attended St. Paul Academy, where he excelled academically and showed an early interest in writing.
- He later attended Princeton University but left before completing his degree.
2. Literary Career:
- Fitzgerald's literary career took off with the publication of his debut novel, "This Side of Paradise," in 1920. The book captured the spirit of the Jazz Age and made Fitzgerald a literary celebrity at a young age.
- His most famous novel, "The Great Gatsby," was published in 1925. Considered a masterpiece of American literature, the book explored themes of love, loss, and the American Dream.
3. The Jazz Age:
- Fitzgerald became a prominent figure of the Jazz Age, a period characterized by economic prosperity, social change, and cultural experimentation in the United States during the 1920s.
- He and his wife, Zelda, embodied the glamorous lifestyle of the era, often hosting extravagant parties and socializing with other notable figures of the time.
4. Personal Struggles:
- Despite his literary success, Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism, mental illness, and financial difficulties throughout his life.
- His wife, Zelda, also battled mental health issues and was hospitalized for schizophrenia.
5. Later Works and Decline:
- Fitzgerald continued to write novels, short stories, and essays, but his later works did not achieve the same critical or commercial success as his earlier books.
- Alcoholism and depression took a toll on his health and writing, and he struggled to find his footing in the changing literary landscape of the 1930s.
6. Death:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in Hollywood, California, on December 21, 1940, at the age of 44.
- He is considered one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, and his works continue to be widely read and studied.