, F. Scott Fitzgerald had decided to join the United States Army. With World War I going on as he entered, Fitzgerald, convinced that he would die in battle quickly wrote his first novel The Romantic Egoist. When he got back a letter from his publisher it was marked rejected. In 1918, after being stationed at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama, Fitzgerald had rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and had fallen in love with the very rich, very beautiful, 18 year-old Zelda Sayre. Still stationed at Camp Sheridan, Fitzgerald's publisher once again rejected the revised edition of The Romantic Egoist that Fitzgerald had so diligently worked on. Never actually seeing any combat time the now engaged Fitzgerald was discharged in 1919 ("A brief life of Fitzgerald" 1).Fitzgerald moved with Zelda, his fianc, to New York City leaving army life behind to seek his fortune. He found a job in the advertisement business; however he was unsuccessful ("A brief life of Fitzgerald" 1). Disappointed in the meager $90 per month income her soon to be husband would be bringing in, Zelda broke their engagement ("Introduction to F. Scott Fitzgerald" 6). One Year later in 1920, Fitzgerald, who had never completely given up on writing, had completed his first published novel This Side of Paradise. The novel was a hit with critics and readers alike. While money from novel sales were rolling in and Fitzgerald had become a celebrity of sorts Zelda decided that she would like to marry him again. He obliged and they were married within the year ("F. Scott Fitzgerald" 1-2).With the success of This Side of Paradise, Fitzgerald had access to literary magazines and publishers that he could have never before imagined. During the next four years, the Fitzgerald's had a daughter but spent most of their time partying, drinking, and reaping the benefits of their celebrity lifestyle. This eccentric lifestyle was paid for by F. Scott's writing of short stories for pub...
