Synopses & Reviews
F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most challenging authors of American literature. He is known internationally as the author of
The Great Gatsby (1925), a twentieth-century literary classic studied by high school students and scholars alike. But Fitzgerald was an amazingly productive writer despite numerous personal and professional difficulties. From the beginning of his literary career with the publication of
This Side of Paradise in 1920 to his death in 1940, he wrote 5 novels, roughly 180 short stories, numerous essays and reviews, much poetry, several plays, and some film scripts. Even when he wrote hastily and perhaps bleary-eyed, his works almost always exhibit the flashes of his genius. He is celebrated as a symbol of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties, but beneath all the glitter for which his prose is famous, he warns of the dangers of personal recklessness and praises the redemptive power of love.
Through hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries, this reference book provides complete coverage of Fitzgerald's life and writings. The volume begins with a chronology that traces his rise from obscurity to fame, his struggles with alcoholism, and his eventual financial downfall. The entries that follow give a full and detailed picture of Fitzgerald and his work. They present the essential action in Fitzgerald's novels, short stories, plays, and poems; identify all named fictional characters and indicate their significance; and give brief biographical information for Fitzgerald's family members, friends, and professional associates. Many of the entries include bibliographies which emphasize criticism published after 1990, and the volume closes with a general bibliography of the most important broad studies of Fitzgerald and his works. A thorough index and extensive cross references provide additional access to the wealth of information in this reference book and help make it a useful tool for a wide range of users.
Review
Libraries with comprehensive collections or specialties in American fiction between the wars may wish to consider this for their stacks.American Reference Books Annual
Synopsis
F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most challenging authors of American literature. Known primarily as the author of The Great Gatsby (1925) and some short fiction, he actually wrote several novels, about 180 stories, and a number of plays, film scenarios, and essays. This reference book includes hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries for Fitzgerald's works, characters, family members, friends, and acquaintances. The volume begins with a chronology that traces Fitzgerald's rise from obscurity with the publication of This Side of Paradise (1920), his studio work and travels, and his lapse into alcoholism and financial ruin. The entries that follow present the essential action in his novels, short stories, plays, and poems; identify all named fictional characters and comment on their significance; and provide brief biographical sketches for persons who figured prominently in his life and career. Many of the entries provide bibliographical information, and the volume closes with a bibliography of the most important general works on Fitzgerald and his works. A thorough index and extensive cross references direct the reader to the copious information in this essential reference book.
About the Author
ROBERT L. GALE is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Pittsburgh.
Table of Contents
Preface
Chronology
Abbreviations
The Encyclopedia
Bibliography