Book Description
A vibrant self-portrait of an artist whose work was his life.

In this new collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald's letters, edited by leading Fitzgerald scholar and biographer Matthew J. Bruccoli, we see through his own words the artistic and emotional maturation of one of America's most enduring and elegant authors. A Life in Letters is the most comprehensive volume of Fitzgerald's letters -- many of them appearing in print for the first time. The fullness of the selection and the chronological arrangement make this collection the closest thing to an autobiography that Fitzgerald ever wrote.

While many readers are familiar with Fitzgerald's legendary "jazz age" social life and his friendships with Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Edmund Wilson, and other famous authors, few are aware of his writings about his life and his views on writing. Letters to his editor Maxwell Perkins illustrate the development of Fitzgerald's literary sensibility; those to his friend and competitor Ernest Hemingway reveal their difficult relationship. The most poignant letters here were written to his wife, Zelda, from the time of their courtship in Montgomery, Alabama, during World War I to her extended convalescence in a sanatorium near Asheville, North Carolina. Fitzgerald is by turns affectionate and proud in his letters to his daughter, Scottie, at college in the East while he was struggling in Hollywood.

For readers who think primarily of Fitzgerald as a hard-drinking playboy for whom writing was effortless, these letters show his serious, painstaking concerns with creating realistic, durable art.

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Customer Reviews (4)

The Beautiful and Damned.
F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar Matthew J. Bruccoli offers a discerning sample of Fitzgerald's letters that serve as an informal biography.Fitzgerald suffered many demons.Alcoholism and poor health were the obvious problems.From reading his letters, we learn that protecting his artistic integrity also weighed heavily on him.Money problems forced him to spend time writing lightweight but commercially viable stories for magazines.This took precious time away from his major work of writing serious novels.His afflicted wife, Zelda, was another dilemma.In 1930, Zelda had her first breakdown, and never recovered.Providing for her care and treatment added to his money woes.Although Fitzgerald enjoyed early success in 1920 with "This Side of Paradise," it was short-lived.By 1924, he wrote to Edmund Wilson, "I really worked hard as hell last winter--but it was all trash and it nearly broke my heart."There was critical success in 1925 with "The Great Gatsby," but it was a financial disappointment.Fitzgerald spent the next nine years writing, revising, and agonizing over "Tender Is the Night."Contrary to hope, that book failed to restore his reputation.The letters display deep introspection, opinions on other writers, comments of manners and morals, and daily concerns of money.There are also amusing and chatty letters to his daughter, Scottie.Fitzgerald's letters to Scribner's Maxwell Perkins and his literary agent, Harold Ober, are the most interesting, and reveal much of his concerns and ideas.Letters written to Zelda in the sanitarium are generally tender and loving, but occasionally they are cross and complaining.The book stops with a letter written to Scottie shortly before Fitzgerald's death in December 1940.Recommended reading for F. Scott Fitzgerald fans.;-)

Intriguing form of biography
This is the sort of book that makes one long for the days prior to-email, when people actually wrote letters to one another and correspondence other than bills and junk mail filled one's mailbox. The book is a valuablesupplement to Fitzgerald's many biographies; his letters reveal aremarkable clarity and self-awareness. My heart ached after reading some ofthem. A must read for all Fitzgerald historians.

I do recommend readingone of Fitzgerald's many biographies prior to reading his letters, as it isa fascinating exercise comparing Fitzgerald'sinterpretation/rationalization of an event with a third party's.

Fitzgerald as only Fitzgerald knew him.
If you want to gain insight into the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald then seek no further. This amazing compilation of Fitzgerald's correspondences to family, friends, business associates and acquaintances portrays the man andthe writer in a way no biographer could imagine. In his letters can beclearly seen Fitzgerald the literary genius, Fitzgerald the loving husbandand father as well as Fitzgerald the sycophant and Fitzgerald the torturedand insecure neurotic.The genesis and the demise of one of the mostfascinating men of his time eloquently presented in his own words.

Fitzgerald as only Fitzgerald knew him.
If you want to gain insight into the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald then seek no further. This amazing compilation of Fitzgerald's correspondences to family, friends, business associates and acquaintances portrays the man andthe writer in a way no biographer could imagine. In his letters can beclearly seen Fitzgerald the literary genius, Fitzgerald the loving husbandand father as well as Fitzgerald the sycophant and Fitzgerald the torturedand insecure neurotic.The genesis and the demise of one of the mostfascinating men of his time eloquently presented in his own words. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of F(rancis) Scott (Key) Fitzgerald, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 8906 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
The taller of the two was named Carrol Key, a name hinting that in his veins, however thinly diluted by generations of degeneration, ran blood of some potentiality. But one could stare endlessly at the long, chinless face, the dull, watery eyes, and high cheek-bones, without finding suggestion of either ancestral worth or native resourcefulness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Satirizing the selfishness of the wealthy
Tales Of The Jazz Age is an anthology of classic short stories by the renowned 20th Century American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, who is best known for his enduring classic "The Great Gatsby". Satirizing the selfishness of the wealthy, depicting revelry that escalates into a destructive mob, while offering a sharp look at the flaws of society, and enhanced with introductions to each story by the author, Tales Of The Jazz Age is highly recommended, and this Pine Street Books edition would make a perfect choice for school and community libraries needing to replace worn copies of previous editions.

"Must" reading for F. Scott Fitzgerald enthusiasts
Tales of the Jazz Age is an anthology of nineteen short stories by renowned author F. Scott Fitzgerald, including "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz", "Dice, Brassknuckles and Guitar", and "Love in the Night". Enhanced with an extensive record of variants, explanatory notes, as well as an extensive introduction concerning the selection and editorial principles of the anthology, Tales of the Jazz Age is a superb edition of classic literature that would grace any academic or library collection -- and is "must" reading for F. Scott Fitzgerald enthusiasts and fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Fitzgerald's first novel, reprinted in the handsome Everyman's Library series of literary classic, uses numerous formal experiments to tell the story of Amory Blaine, as he grows up during the crazy years following the First World War. It also contains a new introduction by Craig Raine that describes critical and popular reception of the book when it came out in 1920.Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald's romantic and witty first novel, was written when the author was only twenty-three years old. This semiautobiographical story of the handsome, indulged, and idealistic Princeton student Amory Blaine received critical raves and catapulted Fitzgerald to instant fame. Now, readers can enjoy the newly edited, authorized version of this early classic of the Jazz Age, based on Fitzgerald's original manuscript. In this definitive text, This Side of Paradise captures the rhythms and romance of Fitzgerald's youth and offers a poignant portrait of the "Lost Generation." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (92)

And now, real life begins...
Fitzgerald's first novel, full of autobiographical undertones, has already the mark of the Lost Generation: a US that is frivolous, nouveau riche, at the same time innocent and perverse. Amory Blaine is the scion of a young American fortune. He's handsome, well read, and spoiled by his eccentric, alcoholic, and overpossessive mother, Beatrice, who gives him a bookish education while at the same time she carries him around the US, where he mixes with all kinds of people. During a stage of drinking problems, Beatrice sends his son to live with some relatives in Minneapolis, where Amory begins his flirting career with rich brats. Then comes life in Princeton, his first real love, his passive service in WWI, his first job in advertising, and a maturing process expressed as the full acceptance of egocentrism, which simultaneously adopts and kills his former religious and altruistic spirit. Religion becomes not so much conviction and mysticism, but a mere reference and moral containment. Similarly, Beauty stops meaning the appreciation of a transcendental experience, to be left only as an aesthetic perception of Pleasure. Amory Blaine becomes a kind of disenchanted Oscar Wilde, less caustic and more introspective. The game of playing to be Dorian Gray finishes in front of the difficulties of life, and what remains is not the criminal being, but the eternal dilettante. The apparent frivolityand emptiness of Amory's story is more than redeemed by the the poetic quality of the prose. Behind the merry life of a rich kid, the XX century is full fledged already: "a new generation grown up to find all Gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken".

Although not yet in league with successive works, especially "The Great Gatsby", this book gives a good appreciation of how Fitzgerald would develop as a writer.

At times sophomoric but ultimately dazzling and memorable
In the beginning of the book, I was turned off by its seeming self-indulgent tone and nature.A brilliant, handsome, self-centered young man goes to prep school, then to Princeton, then out in into the world.The story seemed obviously autobiographical, and I knew what had happened to F. Scott Fitzgerald: a short, romantic but unpleasant, alcoholic life.So I read on, with the thought, "This is explaining why his life was such a disaster", so maybe that can be a reason to keep reading.(Also, I wrote a lot of largely autobiographical, very poor -- not that This Side of Paradise was poor in any way -- fiction when I was in my twenties, so maybe that was bothering me, as I identified too much with Fitzgerald's self-obsession.)And, as Amory Blaine's (the Fitzgerald-like protagonist's) story progressed, it became more entrancing and the self-centeredness less an obstacle and more of the heart of the novel itself.In the end, I would have to summarize that it was a beautiful, brilliant, compelling book, at least as good as Fitzgerald's other work.It's about the experience of the transition from childhood to adult life as viewed by a priviledged (although he wastes/loses his advantages), wonderful (if not very likable at times), artistic genius -- expressed aptly through prose as well as poetry and playscript-type sequences.

Autobiography of Fitzgerald? Probably [91]
Some novels are great stories. Some novels are stories greatly written or told. And, in rare instances, some novels are greatly written great stories. This is one of those rare novels.

This novel closely follows the prepubescent Amory Blaine through his 20's.In the beginning, he is a spoiled boy whose father is distant and mother is a great but disturbed woman.With cash in their pockets, Amory and his mother, Beatrice, enjoy one another as best of friends. Home schooled, he is little boy Fauntleroy during the turn of the century America.

Things change, step by step, with Amory's character increasing while his bank account is decreasing.Fitzgerald calls Amory the Egotist in Book One, and then dons the title "Personage" for that same, but now grown, Amory in Book Two.

This is very autobiographical. Amory, an Irish Catholic (like Fitzgerald),lives his high school yearsin St. Paul (like Fitzgerald) then attends prep school (like Fitzgerald) as he is a privileged youth (like Fitzgerald) and later attends Princeton (like Fitzgerald) where he becomes part of Princeton's Triangle Club (like Fitzgerald) and follows Princeton for the Army (like Fitzgerald). Book One, in fact, was written while Fitzgerald was attending Princeton.

What makes this novel more interesting than other Fitzgerald novels are the different - and somewhat raw - items within it pages. Scribner initially rejected the book because of it being raw.The rawness is evidenced by numerous poems tossed about within it - great stuff.There are added poems from girls he adored - more great stuff.The letters are also great and pithy. And, in the "Debutante" chapter of Book Two, he writes in playwright form the Amory wooing of beautiful Rosalind.In his short novel there is poetry, prose and a play.Although somewhat disjointed, it works. And, works magnificently.

The ending really shows you something about the young man.He preaches Russia'sSocialism to a fat capitalist who kindly gives the Princetonian a ride. Ayn Rand (the Russian born writer who immigrated to America) almost rebuts this portion of the book with her 1957 "Atlas Shrugged." Remember, Stalin and the ugly head of Soviet Socialism did not exist at the time of "This Side of Paradise." Rand, and her people, lived through some of the Red Terror and by 1957 had learned much more about how Russian implementation of Socialism seriously deviated from the ideology espoused by Marx and his peers.

Fitzgerald is a great writer. Maybe America's greatest of the 20th century.And, this close-to-home rendition of thought and emotion,may be the most poignant depiction of what the author felt and feared. If you have any interest in Fitzgerald, this novel is for you.

The book that launched a thousand ships
It's not Fitzgerald's best (Gatsby and The Beautiful and Damned share that distinction), but if you love modern American literature, then you are lucky to have this document of the youthful enthusiasm, exuberance, self-assuredness, and early blossoming of one or our greatest most tragic writers. This is Fitzgerald's foray and kickstart into the world of glamorous literati that he longed for and attained in this first novel. We should all marvel at that accomplishment and rejoice with Amory Blaine's own cocky venture into life's jaunt.

Apparently misunderstood
For all the reviews that mention how egotistical and arrogant Amory is, well, that's the point! The book deals with how he goes from being so egotistical to finding out that there's more to life than his self-indulgence. He learns a great deal, and is faced with moral choices that he must deal with. He feels so guilty in places that he mentally projects the devil staring him down, which is a heck of a way to learn your moral stance on something. Fitzgerald admits Amory's arrogance throughout the book and never makes Amory unaware of it, either. But look at it as Amory's life lessons and get swept away in the magical quality of the prose, which for a young man writing his first novel is astounding in parts. Also, for those who find it corny, etc., try to remember that it was published in 1920. Lots of perfectly serious things from that time would seem corny today. ... Read more

Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Book Description
Stories in the Travelman Short Stories series take the reader to places of mystery, fantasy, horror, romance, and corners of the universe yet unexplored. In turn, readers take them on the bus or subway, slip them into briefcases and lunchboxes, and send them from Jersey to Juneau. Each classic or original short story is printed on one sheet of paper and folded like a map. This makes it simple to read while commuting, convenient to carry when not, and easy to give or send to a friend. A paper envelope is provided for mailing or gift-giving, and both are packaged in a clear plastic envelope for display. The cost is not much more than a greeting card. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

highly readable
This book contains 5 charming tales that range from the bittersweet ("Bernice bobs her hair") over the cautionary ("The Ice Palace") to the tragic ("May Day") and the grotesque ("The Diamond as Big as the Ritz").The fifth story is "The Bowl".
The stories are indeed set in the jazz age (1920's)and tell about the (mis)fortunes of young men and women, high school kids, college students and the like, at that time. So imagine proms, high school dances, romances, a lot of drinking and fighting done by the men and a lot of gossip and rivalry among the women.
The writing is excellent and brings forth vivid imagery in rich detail. So you've got a book about an interesting subject (1920's American high-life) that is also beautifully written. Where I come from that's called a good deal. ... Read more

Book Description
This is the first edition ever published of Trimalchio, an early and complete version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald wrote the novel as Trimalchio and submitted it to Maxwell Perkins, his editor at Scribner's, who had the novel set in type and sent the galleys to Fitzgerald in France. Fitzgerald then virtually rewrote the novel in galleys, producing the book we know as The Great Gatsby. This first version, Trimalchio, has never been published and has only been read by a handful of people. It is markedly different from The Great Gatsby: two chapters were completely rewritten for the published novel, and the rest of the book was heavily revised. Characterization is different, the narrative voice of Nick Carraway is altered and, most importantly, the revelation of Jay Gatsby's past is handled in a wholly different way.James L.W. West III directs the Penn State Center for the History of the Book and is General Editor of the Cambridge Edition of the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. He is the author of William Styron: A Descriptive Biography (Random House, 1998). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Super!
Order arrived on time in great condition!Birthday gift for my boyfriend - he loves it!Thank you!

A Fascinating Early Draft of The Great Gatsby
As a die hard Fitzgerald fan, Trimalchio has enhanced my love and understanding of The Great Gatsby. I really loved the signifance of the name Trimalchio, once I understood it.(For those of you who haven't read the 2nd century AD play by Titus Petronius in which Trimalchio is orignially referenced, Trimalchio is a slave who throws an extragavent feast that everyone laughs behind his back at.) Knowing the reference gave such new depth to my understanding of Gatsby's character, for who was he really if not an updated Trimalchio?

Something else that seemed rather interesting to me were some of the white supremecy illusions that Fitzgerald sprinkled lightly throughout the novel, notably in conversations with Tom and Daisy about the "Master Race". I also noticed a Swastika Holding Company noted in one of Nick's outings to NYC. That alone, the Swastika Holding Company within an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, is worthy of a dissertation.

This early draft seems far darker than The Great Gatsby, yet far clearer in character definition. I understood Gatsby and Daisy's characters far more clearly in this draft. This is an absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous preview of what would become "The Great Gatsby" and I highly recommend it.

Beautiful & fascinating -- A must-read for "Gatsby" lovers
"The Great Gatsby" is my favorite book.This early version is absoultutely fascinating to me.I've read much about the history of the manuscript and the changes made to it, and with "Trimalchio" we get to read for ourselves one version.I was thrilled to have this unusual opportunity; I felt privileged.(Only one complaint in this review is in my last paragraph.)

Aside from the sheer thrill of witnessing at least part of the transition and revision, the book itself is a wonder--to one end--to be viewed along with "The Great Gatsby."Things I've been bothered by in "Gatsby" are different in this book, and it's interesting to read that they had indeed been altered - most notably, the mid-section in "Gatsby" when Nick tells the reader in a near omnicient narration Gatsby's true story; this happens entirely differently in "Trimalchio" and in my opinion does not break the narrative flow the way it does in the final "Great Gatsby."

Some unanswered questions, some debated items become clearer after reading this.Is Gatsby a good guy or a bad guy?Is Nick?Who is Jordan Baker really?Is Nick the agent of the action or an observant/removed narrator?"Trimalchio" presents the answers to some of these questions differently than does "The Great Gatsby," or in a more straightforward and clear fashion.In a sense, this could be a truer-to-Fitzgerald's-soul account, as many of the changes were suggested to him from the outside.Many of the characters underwent changes from this version to "The Great Gatsby," though some changes more major than others.

I'm trying, in this review, not to write what would be a book's worth of my opinion about which is a superior book.Gatsby is such a part of me I could write forever. I will mention that typos and other necessary changes were made from this to the final, as well.And although some things I've questioned and have bothered me simply because I do love the book so much are different in this early version, I don't know how I'd feel if this were the *only* version of the book, as what we have here is an early version of a book I'd always thought brilliant.

The language is beautiful; the characters amazing, sad, complex.I'm infinitely impressed by this book, whichever level of "completion."

I've got one complaint about this edition of "Trimalchio":at the back of the book, there is a list of changes made - galley version, holograph, 1st edition, etc.They are laid out in such a way that they are hard to follow and hard to study.I nearly know "The Great Gatsby" by heart.While reading "Trimalchio" I noticed tiny, tiny differences.But, after I finished, I wanted to truly study the changes at each stage of Fitzgerald's writing, and the lay-out and lack of explanation made it oppressively uninviting.It's too bad, too, because I am ceaselessly (as FSF might say) interested in this - this book, the revision process, its history, everything Gatsby.

Interesting for what it is and what it isn't
For all the talk about the many differences with The Great Gatsby, Trimalchio is still essentially a rough draft of the classic it became rather than a separate and distinct novel.Only the final two chapters are appreciably different beyond the point of reading both novels side by side a page at a time (and as much as I admire Fitzgerald, I'll leave that task to someone else!).Nonetheless, there are enough slight changes in character development and imagery throughout the book to make it interesting.

In one sense - especially in the little-changed early chapters - this version of the story is interesting mostly in that it demonstrates the improvement brought about by the relatively few changes that were still to come.For example, Jordan Baker's climactic recollection of seeing Daisy and Gatsby together during the war is quite a bit less scandalous here than in the final version, so that the plot still advances but much of the tension of the scene is lacking.Some of the party scenes are also less detailed than they would become.None of this is to say these parts of the book aren't still enjoyable, especially if you haven't read Gatsby recently; it's just that the changes Fitzgerald made really did improve the story in small but noticeable ways.

Although the end of the story is largely the same, the last two chapters do hold several surprises for those who are already familiar with the final version.Gatsby is portrayed at least slightly more sympathetically, Nick is less of a shadow, and the past events leading up to the currently unfolding plot are both different and somewhat less vague.This takes away some of the mystique of several of the characters, but it's not necessarily better or worse; in any case, it's fascinating to see Fitzgerald's original approach and how it changed.One thing he arguably didn't change enough is Nick's bleak outlook in the closing pages; life doesn't end at 30 just because of a lousy summer!I've always considered that the weakest point of the novel, but this version at least offers a slightly different context and narration of the ending.

Imperfections and all, it's still brilliant.Recommended for all Gatsby fans.

A Must-Read for Gatsby/Fitzgerald Fans
I first encountered "The Great Gatsby" in 11th grade and its sheer lyric beauty has transfixed me to the point of at least 4 readings per year ever since.Therefore, "Trimalchio" was a joy for me to read and I believe it will bring the same amount of happiness to fellow Fitzgerald fans.The book is a brief read at only 146 pages of actual text,( as opposed to "Gatsby's" 189 in the most recent Scribner paperback edition) but the opportunity to read the rough draft of a genuis like Fitzgerald is an invigorating experience- reading passages from "Trimalchio" and then looking at their equivalent passages in "Gatsby" allows you to enter the mind of Fitzgerald through his revisionary decisions and enchances your appreciation of the sheer amount of work which Fitzgerald devoted to crafting his masterpiece.That being said, do not expect incredible differences between the two texts:the most notable changes are minor details and the chronilogical order of events and revelations.Reading "Trimalchio" is ultimately like watching deleted scenes from a movie on a DVD- they are of comparatively minor significance, but they enhance one's appreciation of the work as a whole.If you loved "The Great Gatsby," take the time to read "Trimalchio." ... Read more

Book Description
Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for his novels, but in his lifetime, his fame stemmed from his prolific achievement as one of America's most gifted (and best-paid) writers of stories and novellas. In The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Matthew J. Bruccoli, the country's premier Fitzgerald scholar and biographer, assembles a sparkling collection that encompasses the full scope of Fitzgerald's short fiction. The forty-three masterpieces range from early stories that capture the fashion of the times to later ones written after the author's fabled crack-up, which are sober reflections on his own youthful excesses. Included are classic novellas, such as "The Rich Boy," "May Day," and "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," as well as a remarkable body of work he wrote for the Saturday Evening Post and its sister "slicks." These stories can be read as an autobiographical journal of a great writer's career, an experience deepened by the illuminating introductory headnotes that Matthew Bruccoli has written for each story, placing it in its literary and biographical context.

Together, these forty-three stories compose a vivid picture of a lost era, but their brilliance is timeless. As Malcolm Cowley once wrote, "Fitzgerald remains an exemplar and archetype, but not of the 1920s alone; in the end he represents the human spirit in one of its permanent forms." This essential collection is ample testament to that statement, and a monument to the genius of one of the great voices in the history of American literature.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

F Scott Fitzawesome
F Scott Fitzgerald is the greatest American author of the 20th Century.It's easy to see why with this collection of short stories.What I enjoy best about this book is seeing the experimentation of Fitzgerald's writing from one story to the next.It's fun to see the literary and thematic chances that he took as his career progressed.You should buy this book.

Deadline Looming....
It was, after all, the Great Cham, Samuel Johnson, who said that "Nobody but a blockhead ever wrote for anything but money"-I don't believe this is true. I don't even believe Johnson that "harmless drudge" as he describes himself in the dictionary he spent several unrewarded years compiling believed it either.But it does, anent Fitzgerald and his stories, as comprised in this book, come to mind. Simply put, Fitzgerald was a much better short story writer than a novelist.Indeed, one can argue that Fitzgerald was not a novelist at all and was, as he described himself, a writer who wanted to "preach at people."In any event, the Johnsonian dictum cited above seems to apply to Fitzgerald: He wrote much better when under some pecuniary deadline than otherwise.I am not so much concerned here as to whether "Fitzgerald" was a "great" writer or not.But he was certainly no Keats or Shelley, as one reviewer eulogizes.

There is a gossamer quality to Fitzgerald's prose that, it seems to me, is mistaken for lyricism.Pick up any page of Fitzgerald's contemporary, Thomas Wolfe, (specifically Look Homeward, Angel) and you'll see the difference. -What this lightness of touch amounts to in his novels and stories, for the most part, is that the characters come off as two-dimensional, and when Scott tries to delve deeper for what he called "psychological moments" or whatever, the reader is left with a gracefully penned alternative two-dimensional figure.It's quite frustrating. ----All this is to say, though I'm not a great fan of Fitzgerald's writing, some of these stories are worth any reader's while, and I shall list them:

"Bernice Bobs Her Hair" p.25

"Dice, Brassknuckles & Guitar" p.237

"Love In The Night" p.302

"A Short Trip Home" p.372

"The Swimmers" p.495

"A New Leaf" p.634

"Afternoon of An Author" p.734

"The Lost Decade" p.747

These stories stand out for one of two reasons, they lack the strain put on the reader by the gossamer sketching described above, or, for a few of them, Fitzgerald actually manages to pull it off - a powerful or haunting story touching the human condition.

Sorry, F. Scott acolytes, but only three stars for these pearls amidst the Period-Writing paste.

Beautiful writing
The use of language doesn't get much better than this.Each sentence is a work of art and a pleasure to read.I smile as I read.The stories themselves are so clearly placed in a post-WWI setting that they are a glimpse into life in the 1920's - as, I believe, Fitgerald wanted to show.Also, to me, any Fitgerald work edited or or explained by Matthew Bruccoli is informative & interesting.

The above, though, is to those who like Fitzgerald.To me, his is special beyond many other authors' writing.If you've never enjoyed his work before, this book won't change that.If you've never read anything by Fitzgerald, I would suggest starting with "The Great Gatsby."

Fitzgerald's Stories--Short and Sweet
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote tons of stories during his lifetime--something around 134, total.This book, however, contains the most elite chunk of those writings.To start, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is one of Fitzgerald's most-read stories.I have read it myself, but have found better ones."The Ice Palace", for instance, has a remarkable ability to make its readers walk away saying "I relate to this!"."May Day", my personal favorite, is about people on top sinking to the bottom, and people on the bottom sinking lower.At least, that's the abridged summary, there's alot more to it then that."Winter Dreams" is another winner, but I liked "May Day" better.All of his stories generally pertain to Fitzgerald's masterpiece, "The Great Gatsby".In other words, they all contain that one character desperately searching for the missing piece of the puzzle.That can be either the one element that would make his/her life complete, or launch it in a different direction.Why does he do this so well?Because this theme is partially autobiographical.Fitzgerald started off at Princeton where he made hardly any friends.Then he moved on to the Southern US when he joined the army.This is where he met Zelda.But Zelda did not want to marry him due to his lack of money.So Fitzgerald began writing in persuit of the dollar to support Zelda.His plan worked and he was a big success...for a while.Then he moved, in despiration, to Europe in order to gain a better status.This didn't work either and he ended up dying in Hollywood at age 40.His wife, Zelda, went mad and was institutionalized a few years prior.This should be kept in mind as you read his short stories, there are definate parallels!

A wonderful, quick read
I've read almost all of F Scott Fitzgerald's work and I was delighted to find this compelation of short stories. I read this book alomst four years ago and I can still remember the characters and details of each story - my favorite was Diamond as Big as the Ritz. Try it out and you will not be dissapointed! ... Read more

Book Description
Self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby epitomizes the decadence of the 1920s Jazz Age in this tale of rise and decline, told with detached curiosity by his neighbor and confidante Nick Carraway.

The title, Ernest Hemingway's The Great Gatsby, part of Chelsea House Publishers' Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Ernest Hemingway's The Great Gatsby through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics.This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Ernest Hemingway, a chronology of the author's life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University. ... Read more

Book Description
Specially-commissioned essays by major scholars present a clear and comprehensive assessment of F. Scott Fitzgerald. No aspect of his career is overlooked--from his first novel published in 1920, through his more than 170 short stories, to his last unfinished Hollywood novel. Contributions present the reader with an accessible picture of the background of American social and cultural change in the early decades of the twentieth century. The volume offers readers a complete account of Fitzgerald's work as well as suggestions for further reading. ... Read more