F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American author in the early 1900's. During his lifetime he was occasionally labeled as a mediocre writer and a careless drunk. It is undeniable that Fitzgerald was a heavy drinker, but since his death his worth as a writer has become highly respected. He is now widely considered one of the best American authors who has ever lived. His novel "The Great Gatsby" is even required reading for many English courses.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St.Paul Minnesota. His father, Edward Fitzgerald and his mother Mary Fitzgerald nee McQuillan, named him after the writer of the United States National Anthem. Francis Scott Key was also a distant relative of Edward’s.

Scott and his family resided in New York for some time, during his youth. When Scott was twelve, his father lost his job in New York. The Fitzgeralds returned to Minnesota. Three years later Scott was sent to a Catholic prep school in New Jersey called Newman School. He graduated in 1913 at the age of 17. He moved on to Princeton that same year.

By all accounts Scott wasn’t excelling at Princeton. He left college in 1917 and enlisted in the Army. He became a 2nd lieutenant. During this time he wrote "The Romantic Egoist." He submitted it for publication, but it was rejected with the provision that he could resubmit it after revision.   

The following year (1918), Scott was stationed at Camp Sheridan, Alabama. While in Alabama he met Zelda Sayre and the two became engaged. Scott then began his attempt at making money writing in earnest. He didn’t meet with immediate success, so Zelda broke off the engagement.

In 1919, Fitzgerald was discharged and living in New York when he decided to move back to St. Paul. While in St. Paul he began revising "The Romantic Egoist," which soon became "This Side of Paradise." After he resubmitted the novel, it was accepted for publication. He also began writing short stories for "The Saturday Evening Post."

"This Side of Paradise" was published in March of 1920. F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre were married on April 3, 1920. Zelda had changed her mind when she became aware of Scott’s new situation. On October 26, 1921, the couple had their first and only child, Frances Scott. She was born in St. Paul like her father.

In 1922, the Fitzgerald family moved to Long Island, New York. Scott was trying his hand at writing for Broadway. Around this time Scott and Zelda began living extravagantly and drinking often. Heated fights were becoming commonplace in the Fitzgerald household.

In the Spring of 1924, Scott took his family to France. This is where F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote what is arguably his best novel, "The Great Gatsby." During this time there were rumors that Zelda was having an affair with a French pilot. "The Great Gatsby" was published the following April.

The family returned to the united States in 1925. Zelda had been displaying signs of a mental illness for many years. In 1930 she had the first of many mental breakdowns and was hospitalized and released. Two years later she had yet another breakdown and from that point on she was in and out of hospitals. She would later be hospitalized for the remainder of her life.

Because of the Fitzgerald’s lifestyle and Zelda’s medical bills, they spent much of the 30's in debt. In 1935 Scott sent Frances to boarding school. She was cared for by the Ober family and never lived with either of her parents again.

Scott was able to land a job as a screenwriter for MGM in 1937. He was able to pay off the bulk of his debt. Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood alone and began an affair with Sheilah Graham. Zelda would be hospitalized permanently soon after.

On December 21, 1940, F. Scott Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in his mistress’ apartment in Hollywood. He was 44 years old at the time. His untimely death may have been caused by years of heavy drinking. He was also known to have suffered from tuberculosis. Zelda Fitzgerald died in a fire at Highland Hospital eight years later.

Sources

Bruccoli, Matthew, A Brief Life of Fitzgerald, retrieved 6/20/09, sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html