F. Scott Fitzgerald

Date of Birth: September 24, 1896

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: December 21, 1940

Biography

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, known as F. Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he popularized. His most famous work, “The Great Gatsby,” is considered a defining novel of the 20th century. Fitzgerald’s life was marked by great highs and lows, mirroring the lives of his characters. He married Zelda Sayre in 1920, and their tumultuous relationship became a subject of fascination. Despite the initial success of his works, financial difficulties and declining health plagued his later years. He moved to Hollywood in the 1930s to work as a screenwriter, but he never regained his early literary success. Fitzgerald died of a heart attack on December 21, 1940, at the age of 44.

5 Interesting Facts about F. Scott Fitzgerald

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s full name was Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, named after his famous second cousin, three times removed, Francis Scott Key, who wrote the U.S. national anthem.

2. He published his first novel, “This Side of Paradise,” in 1920, which made him an overnight success and allowed him to marry Zelda Sayre.

3. Fitzgerald and Zelda were known as the quintessential “Roaring Twenties” couple, embodying the era’s glamour and decadence.

4. His novel “The Great Gatsby” was initially a commercial failure and only gained its status as a classic after his death.

5. Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, which significantly affected his health and career.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from F. Scott Fitzgerald

1. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

2. “I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

3. “You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”

4. “Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.”

5. “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s highest net worth is estimated to have been around $35,000 (equivalent to about $650,000 today) during his peak years in the 1920s.

Children

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre had one child, a daughter named Frances Scott “Scottie” Fitzgerald, born on October 26, 1921. Scottie went on to become a writer and journalist.