Scott Fitzgerald was a novelist and short story writer who wrote mainly of the jazz age. While considered among the best American authors today, F. Scott Fitzgerald was not highly regarded during his life. Fitzgerald was overwhelmed by a miserable marriage, drunkenness, and ruthless critiques. "Fitzgerald's life is a tragic example of both sides of the American Dream - the joys of young love, wealth and success, and the tragedies associated with excess and failure." (SC.EDU) Inheriting his name from another famous American, a distant cousin who authored the Star Spangled Banner, F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul Minnesota. Fitzgerald was the son of a failed wicker furniture salesman and an Irish immigrant. At a young age Fitzgerald spoke of a desire to write and began actively writing detective stories for his high school paper. .
Fitzgerald's first novel was rejected, and after failing at Princeton College, he enlisted in the army and was stationed in Montgomery Alabama where he met Zelda Sayre. "Fitzgerald was engaged to marry yet another enchanting girl, Zelda Sayre of Montgomery, Alabama, the daughter of a judge and by all accounts a belle of shockingly unconventional behavior. Together, they lived a quite colorful life of parties and money spending." (SC.EDU). Fitzgerald was not wealthy, because of his status Zelda lost interest in marriage prospects. After Fitzgerald's book This Side of Paradise was published Zelda was only too happy to live the affluent and celebrated lifestyle of a rich and famous author. .
After Fitzgerald's second novel "The Beautiful and the Damned" he and Zelda had their only child, Scottie. After the birth of their child that they begin to make frequent trips to Europe, staying for months at a time, seeking calm for his work, or maybe escaping prohibition. While in Paris Fitzgerald wrote and published The Great Gatsby, his most recognized and regarded work.