Flappers and Philosophers

The first short story collection by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Flappers and Philosophers" was originally published in 1920. The eight stories of the collection are set in the era for which the author is best known, the Jazz Age, a term Fitzgerald himself coined. While perhaps best known for his novels, Fitzgerald was a prolific and accomplished short story writer and found the most fame and fortune during his career in writing short stories for magazines, such as the Saturday Evening Post. Included in this collection are some of his most famous and romantic short stories, such as "The Offshore Pirate" and "Head and Shoulders," which mirror many of the themes in his novels: mismatched lovers, the sacrifice of career goals for love, and bittersweet endings. Fitzgerald's versatility and range as an author can be seen in the melancholy and tragic examination of a long marriage in "The Cut-Glass Bowl" when compared to the tale of youthful competition and revenge in "Bernice Bobs Her Hair." These short stories demonstrate why Fitzgerald is considered one of America's very best authors. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, known as F. Scott Fitzgerald, was an American writer renowned for his works that epitomized the Jazz Age, a term he coined. Born on September 24, 1896, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald became one of the most prominent novelists of the early 20th century. He attended Princeton University, where his writing career began to take shape. His most famous work, The Great Gatsby, is often cited as one of the great American novels, capturing the disillusionment of the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties. His personal life was marked by his tumultuous marriage to Zelda Sayre, whom he married in 1920, and the couple's extravagant lifestyle served as a backdrop for many of his works. Fitzgerald's writing is deeply influenced by figures such as Edith Wharton and John Keats. Despite early success, his later years were marred by financial instability, alcohol dependence, and personal struggles. He passed away on December 21, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 44, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's most celebrated literary figures.