American writer Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, better known as F. Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist and short story writer of the early 20th century. He was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to a well-to-do family of Irish and English descent. Fitzgerald's parents, Edward and Mary, were both Catholic, and he was their only son. Fitzgerald had a relatively privileged upbringing, attending private schools and universities such as St. Paul Academy and Princeton University. However, he was a poor student, often getting into trouble with the authorities and frequently neglecting his studies. Despite this, Fitzgerald had a natural talent for writing and showed an early interest in literature and storytelling.

In 1917, Fitzgerald left Princeton without graduating to join the United States Army during World War I. However, he never saw combat and was stationed at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama, where he met and fell in love with a young woman named Zelda Sayre. Fitzgerald proposed to Zelda in 1919, but she refused him due to his financial insecurity.

Determined to win Zelda's hand, Fitzgerald moved to New York City and began working on his writing career. In 1920, his first novel, "This Side of Paradise," was published to critical acclaim. The book became an instant bestseller and made Fitzgerald an overnight sensation.

With his newfound fame and success, Fitzgerald married Zelda in 1920 and the couple embarked on a glamorous and decadent lifestyle. They became the epitome of the "flapper" era, attending parties, drinking heavily, and spending lavishly. Fitzgerald's second novel, "The Beautiful and Damned," was published in 1922 and further cemented his reputation as a leading voice of the Jazz Age.

Throughout the 1920s, Fitzgerald continued to produce works of fiction, including "The Great Gatsby" (1925), which is widely considered to be his masterpiece. The novel is a scathing critique of the excesses and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties, and it has become a staple of high school and college curricula around the world.

However, despite his literary success, Fitzgerald struggled with personal demons. He and Zelda had a tumultuous relationship, and her mental illness often left him feeling helpless and frustrated. Additionally, Fitzgerald was plagued by alcoholism, which had a profound impact on his health and creative output.

By the 1930s, Fitzgerald's literary career was in decline, and he struggled to maintain his lifestyle and support his family. He turned to writing screenplays and short stories for Hollywood studios, but his work was often unappreciated and poorly compensated. Fitzgerald's final novel, "The Last Tycoon," was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1940 at the age of 44.

Fitzgerald's legacy as one of the most important writers of the 20th century is secure. His works are celebrated for their elegant prose, vivid characterizations, and acute social commentary. Fitzgerald's life, too, has become the stuff of legend, as he embodied the spirit of the Jazz Age while also grappling with the darker aspects of fame and fortune. Today, Fitzgerald is remembered not only as a writer but also as an icon of American culture.