Great Gatsby Biography
The Greatest inspiration for many authors is their life experiences and the people they have encountered. In-arguably, Harper Lee’s greatest work, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” contains many connections to her hometown, childhood self, and her father. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote his novels and short stories in a similar fashion. The protagonist of his works and himself, typically, share similar economic status and taste for rich women. “The Great Gatsby,” looked not only at Fitzgerald’s life, but an historic case of his time. “The Great Gatsby.” could be considered both autobiographical and historical fiction. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Namesake, also second cousin three times removed, happens to be “Star Spangled Banner,” author Francis Scott Key. His parents held very different financial states. His Mother, Mary McQuillan, inherited a small fortune and his father, Edward Fitzgerald, was a failed businessman. The family spent the greater part of Fitzgerald's childhood living off his mother’s fortune. (Biography.com Editors) As the only child, he was the object of his mother’s joy and money. At the age of thirteen, young Fitzgerald was sent to Saint Paul Academy, where his life as a writer began. A detective short story
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of his was published in the school newspaper. Two years later he was kicked out and transferred to the esteemed Newman School in New Jersey. The school priest, Father Sigourney Fay, noticed his talent for writing and highly encouraged him to pursue it in the future. (Biography.com Editors) Ensuing graduation, Fitzgerald continued his studies at Princeton University. He never graduated and dropped out to join the army. His dreams of writing never died during basic training. Fearing he would be killed during battle, hastily, he wrote The Romantic Egoist. Despite the fact the novel was rejected by publishers, they noted Fitzgerald’s originality and motivated him to continue writing. Luckily for him, the Great War ended before he could be sent to the front lines. (Biography.com Editors) The autobiographical aspect of Fitzgerald’s novels works is derived from his relationship with his wife. While based in Camp Sheridan during his army days, he met Zelda Sayre, daughter of an Alabama supreme court justice. She was a rich girl looking for a rich husband. Because Fitzgerald did not any wealth, or even a job, Zelda rejected his initial proposal. In 1920 following the success of his novel This Side of Paradise, the renewed edition of The Romantic Egoist, Zelda finally agreed to marry him. (Biography.com Editors) The Couple’s early years of marriage were full of joy and extravagance. Fitzgerald revealed in his new found celebrity status with parties, drinking, and expensive gifts for Zelda. Undeterred by becoming parents in 1921 to daughter Frances Scott Fitzgerald, the pair never lost their taste for lavish life. Fitzgerald appeared to seal his status of fame and greatness with the publication of his second novel The Beautiful and the Damned in 1922. The novel told the story of the troubled marriage of Anthony and Gloria Patch. Unfortunately, the story foreshadowed Fitzgerald's own marriage to Zelda. (Biography.com Editors) The Final years of Fitzgerald’s life was a cycle of alcoholism, writer’s block, and Zelda’s multiple mental breakdowns. Zelda was moved from different mental institutions for schizophrenia, before settling into one in Baltimore. This rough patch of Fitzgerald’s life most likely inspired his fourth novel Tender is the Night; the tale of an American psychiatrist in Paris and his troubled marriage to a wealthy patient. F. Scott Fitzgerald died on December 21, 1940 at the age of forty-four while working as a screenwriter in Hollywood to pay for Zelda’s medical bills. (Biography.com Editors)
Despite Fitzgerald dying believing himself a failure, he is known for one novel, whose success outlives him. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925, with only Fitzgerald having faith in its success. An unaccomplished 24,000 copies were sold in his lifetime. Copies were sitting dusty in a warehouse at the time of his passing. Five years after his death, the United States military distributed 150,000 copies to soldiers fighting in the second world war. This regenerated the book’s fame. The Great Gatsby is now taught in high schools and colleges around the country. (Schulz)
The Great Gatsby is story of a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby whose lavish life attracts the attention of many.
He, like Fitzgerald, was a soldier with almost no fortune and sought the love of a rich woman. In Gatsby’s case it was the young and beautiful Daisy. His entire pursuit of money and extravagant parties he hosts are all done in order to win Daisy back. The only problem with their relationship is Daisy married Tom Buchanan while Gatsby was amassing his fortune. Meanwhile, Tom is also having an affair with a woman named Myrtle Wilson, who is also married. These twisted and interconnected relationships eventually lead to the deaths of Gatsby, Myrtle, and her husband, George.
(Fitzgerald)
This great work of fiction that inscribed Fitzgerald into history, is much closer to reality than fiction. Inspiration for this famous novel comes from both Fitzgerald and Zelda’s love story and a scandalous murder case of 1922. According to Sarah Churchwell, author of Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald acquired insight from the Hall-Mills murder case. Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills were found shot and killed in a deserted field in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The pair were lovers despite being married to other people. Hall’s wife was an heiress and Hall himself, like the character Daisy Buchanan, was thought to have married for money and not love. Rumors of the time claim that Hall’s window used her money and family contacts to destroy the investigation, of which she and her brothers were the prime suspects. Complementary to The Great Gatsby, wealth, passion, and indulgence, led to the collapse of the lives of Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills. (Staggs) F. Scott Fitzgerald dedicated his life to pursuing his passions. The principal passions he pursued were fame by his writing, wealth, and the affection of his wife Zelda. The former two presented him with the path to achieve the latter. With his dramatic and sometimes tragic life and surroundings, his works of literature were capable of providing him with all three of desires. Now that he had glory and riches, he supply opulent gifts and parties to impress all his friends. Yet, whatever he did with his prosperity, he would do for the love of a rich woman.
of his was published in the school newspaper. Two years later he was kicked out and transferred to the esteemed Newman School in New Jersey. The school priest, Father Sigourney Fay, noticed his talent for writing and highly encouraged him to pursue it in the future. (Biography.com Editors) Ensuing graduation, Fitzgerald continued his studies at Princeton University. He never graduated and dropped out to join the army. His dreams of writing never died during basic training. Fearing he would be killed during battle, hastily, he wrote The Romantic Egoist. Despite the fact the novel was rejected by publishers, they noted Fitzgerald’s originality and motivated him to continue writing. Luckily for him, the Great War ended before he could be sent to the front lines. (Biography.com Editors) The autobiographical aspect of Fitzgerald’s novels works is derived from his relationship with his wife. While based in Camp Sheridan during his army days, he met Zelda Sayre, daughter of an Alabama supreme court justice. She was a rich girl looking for a rich husband. Because Fitzgerald did not any wealth, or even a job, Zelda rejected his initial proposal. In 1920 following the success of his novel This Side of Paradise, the renewed edition of The Romantic Egoist, Zelda finally agreed to marry him. (Biography.com Editors) The Couple’s early years of marriage were full of joy and extravagance. Fitzgerald revealed in his new found celebrity status with parties, drinking, and expensive gifts for Zelda. Undeterred by becoming parents in 1921 to daughter Frances Scott Fitzgerald, the pair never lost their taste for lavish life. Fitzgerald appeared to seal his status of fame and greatness with the publication of his second novel The Beautiful and the Damned in 1922. The novel told the story of the troubled marriage of Anthony and Gloria Patch. Unfortunately, the story foreshadowed Fitzgerald's own marriage to Zelda. (Biography.com Editors) The Final years of Fitzgerald’s life was a cycle of alcoholism, writer’s block, and Zelda’s multiple mental breakdowns. Zelda was moved from different mental institutions for schizophrenia, before settling into one in Baltimore. This rough patch of Fitzgerald’s life most likely inspired his fourth novel Tender is the Night; the tale of an American psychiatrist in Paris and his troubled marriage to a wealthy patient. F. Scott Fitzgerald died on December 21, 1940 at the age of forty-four while working as a screenwriter in Hollywood to pay for Zelda’s medical bills. (Biography.com Editors)
Despite Fitzgerald dying believing himself a failure, he is known for one novel, whose success outlives him. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925, with only Fitzgerald having faith in its success. An unaccomplished 24,000 copies were sold in his lifetime. Copies were sitting dusty in a warehouse at the time of his passing. Five years after his death, the United States military distributed 150,000 copies to soldiers fighting in the second world war. This regenerated the book’s fame. The Great Gatsby is now taught in high schools and colleges around the country. (Schulz)
The Great Gatsby is story of a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby whose lavish life attracts the attention of many.
He, like Fitzgerald, was a soldier with almost no fortune and sought the love of a rich woman. In Gatsby’s case it was the young and beautiful Daisy. His entire pursuit of money and extravagant parties he hosts are all done in order to win Daisy back. The only problem with their relationship is Daisy married Tom Buchanan while Gatsby was amassing his fortune. Meanwhile, Tom is also having an affair with a woman named Myrtle Wilson, who is also married. These twisted and interconnected relationships eventually lead to the deaths of Gatsby, Myrtle, and her husband, George.
(Fitzgerald)
This great work of fiction that inscribed Fitzgerald into history, is much closer to reality than fiction. Inspiration for this famous novel comes from both Fitzgerald and Zelda’s love story and a scandalous murder case of 1922. According to Sarah Churchwell, author of Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald acquired insight from the Hall-Mills murder case. Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills were found shot and killed in a deserted field in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The pair were lovers despite being married to other people. Hall’s wife was an heiress and Hall himself, like the character Daisy Buchanan, was thought to have married for money and not love. Rumors of the time claim that Hall’s window used her money and family contacts to destroy the investigation, of which she and her brothers were the prime suspects. Complementary to The Great Gatsby, wealth, passion, and indulgence, led to the collapse of the lives of Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills. (Staggs) F. Scott Fitzgerald dedicated his life to pursuing his passions. The principal passions he pursued were fame by his writing, wealth, and the affection of his wife Zelda. The former two presented him with the path to achieve the latter. With his dramatic and sometimes tragic life and surroundings, his works of literature were capable of providing him with all three of desires. Now that he had glory and riches, he supply opulent gifts and parties to impress all his friends. Yet, whatever he did with his prosperity, he would do for the love of a rich woman.