F. Scott Fitzgerald

Early life Born Sept. 24, 1896 as Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald in Minnesota Cousin of Francis Scott Key-writer of the National Anthem Father had an allegiance to the Old South Mother was an Irish immigrant whose parents were wealthy grocers

1917 Failing out of Princeton Decided to join the Army –Believed he would die, so he quickly wrote a novel It was rejected, but asked to be resubmitted once it was revised

June 1918 Assigned to Camp Sheridan, near Montgomery, Alabama Met and fell in love with 18 year old Zelda Sayre Attempted to resubmit his book, but it was rejected again –Before he was sent overseas, the war ended, and he was discharged

After Discharge Moved to New York City to become wealthy in order to marry Zelda –She refused to live off his small salary, and broke off their engagement His first book was published, This Side of Paradise Became a famous writer overnight A week after published, he and Zelda married

Misc. Zelda became pregnant, and they toured Europe until she was ready to give birth They had their only child “Francis Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald, born October of 1921 He was an alcoholic, but he wrote sober –Zelda was a heavy drinker, but not an alcoholic –They fought frequently, but only when drunk His drinking gave him a reputation of being an irresponsible writer

France In 1924, they sought peace and escape from their wild lives Moved to France Here, Zelda had an affair with a French Pilot

Rome Spent the winter of in Rome He revised The Great Gatsby

Misc. Returned to the US to avoid European distractions F. Scott attempted to be a screen writer Zelda attempted to become a professional ballerina –She had a nervous breakdown while studying dance in Europe He paid the psychiatric bills by writing short stories

1931 Returned to the US and rented a house in Montgomery Made another unsuccessful trip to Hollywood to be a screen writer –Failed again

1932 Suffered a relapse of her breakdown She spent the rest of her life in sanitariums and psychiatric hospitals Zelda also wrote an autobiography of her life, which caused problems with her estranged husband –Some of the material she used was “taken” for the book he was writing

His ‘crack-up’ Drunk, in debt, and ill, Fitzgerald was a commercial failure Not able to maintain a home for his daughter, and she went to a boarding school. –She then lived with a ‘surrogate’ family who took care of her.

Misc. He eventually fell in love with a Hollywood movie columnist Lost his fame in Hollywood On December 20 th, 1940, he died of a heart attack Zelda died 1948 in a fire at Highland’s hospital.