The Cambridge Introduction to F. Scott Fitzgerald (Cambridge Introductions to Literature)

Although F. Scott Fitzgerald remains one of the most recognizable literary figures of the twentieth century, his legendary life - including his tempestuous romance with his wife and muse Zelda - continues to overshadow his art. However glamorous his image as the poet laureate of the 1920s, he was first and foremost a great writer with a gift for fluid, elegant prose. This introduction reminds readers why Fitzgerald deserves his preeminent place in literary history. It discusses not only his best-known works, The Great Gatsby (1925) and Tender Is the Night (1934), but the full scope of his output, including his other novels and his short stories. This book introduces new readers and students of Fitzgerald to his trademark themes, his memorable characters, his significant plots, the literary modes and genres from which he borrowed, and his inimitable style. --Publisher Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 11 Chapter 1 Life 22 Childhood and literary apprenticeship (1896–1917) 23 Zelda and early success (1918–1924) 26 Artistic maturity and personal decline (1925–1934) 31 The crack-up and the comeback (1935–1940) 34 Chapter 2 Cultural context 38 My generation: youth culture and the politics of aging 39 The theater of being: personality and performative identity 41 The marketplace of self-making: personal style and consumerism 44 Flaunting recreations: conspicuous leisure and the culture of indulgence 46 Chapter 3 Works 49 Composition process 50 Major themes 63 Major characters 79 Major plots and motifs 95 Courtship stories 95 Marriage stories 98 Expatriation stories 100 Hollywood stories 103 Didactic stories 106 Mode and genre 107 Style and point of view 117 Chapter 4 Critical reception 122 Contemporary reviewers: admirers, detractors, and the problem of maturity 122 The Fitzgerald revival: universalizing themes and scouring for symbols 128 Modern Fitzgerald studies: historical turns and biographical controversies 131 Notes 137 Preface 137 Introduction 137 1 Life 137 2 Cultural context 139 3 Works 140 4 Critical reception 143 Guide to further reading 146 F. Scott Fitzgerald: key editions 146 Secondary sources 146 Index 151

Although F. Scott Fitzgerald remains one of the most recognizable literary figures of the twentieth century, his legendary life continues to overshadow his art. This introduction reminds readers why Fitzgerald deserves his preeminent place in literary history. It discusses his best-known works, The Great Gatsby (1925) and Tender Is the Night (1934), as well as his other novels and his short stories. This book introduces new readers and students of Fitzgerald to his trademark themes, his memorable characters, his significant plots, and his inimitable style.

This series is designed to introduce students to key topics and authors. Accessible and lively, these introductions will also appeal to readers who want to broaden their understanding of the books and authors they enjoy.

Ideal for students, teachers and lecturers

Concise yet packed with essential information

Key suggestions for further reading

I would never have thought that someone could still write a fresh approach to Fitzgerald, especially in an introductory book. However, Curnutt has done just that here. I read this book with both wonder and admiration at how Curnutt has reformulated the old critical approaches into something fresh and new, without having the whole thing weighted down by theoretical baggage. I recommend this book to experienced and novice readers of Fitzgerald alike. F. Scott Fitzgerald's reputation as a society figure of the 1920s continues to overshadow his art. This introduction shows readers why he deserves his preeminent place in literary history, for his masterpieces The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night, his finely drawn characters and plots, and his inimitable style. Kirk Curnutt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 127-140) And Index.