American literary history. Whereas previous biographies tended to over-exaggerate either the romantic or tragic elements of Fitzgerald’s life, Scott Fitzgerald does not in any way attempt to emphasize these aspects. Rather, this biography offers a strait-forward interpretation of both the life and works of Fitzgerald. It illustrates the importance of his relationships with Zelda Sayre and Ernest Hemmingway; the mentally and physically destructive influence of his alcoholism; and the parallels between his life and his writings. Through these facets, and many others, Meyers provides insight into Fitzgerald’s life, without forcing his own opinion of the subject upon the reader. Personally, I found Scott Fitzgerald to be both insightful and interesting. Compared to other Fitzgerald biographies that I have read, Meyers’ biography was clearly the least biased and the most strait-forward. In terms of literary style, I found this biography very pleasing to read. Meyers’ deftly wove primary quotes, his own prose, and excerpts of Fitzgerald’s writing into a coherent and thought provoking portrayal of a very complex man. To all fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald, I recommend this biography strongly, but to those who don’t know the difference between Scott and Ella Fitzgerald, I recommend this biography with reservation. Word Count: 774 ...
