HOW F. SCOTT AND
ZELDA FITZGERALD MET
G'day folks,
We have all heard about them, and read their work, but how did they meet?
You’d think the couple that pretty much embodies the roaring 20s would meet in a more typical fashion, like being introduced by some famous author friends. But the truth is that F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Syre met in a much more ordinary and coincidental way - at a dance. In fact, it was a dance F. Scott Fitzgerald wasn’t even supposed to attend. In July 1918, the aspiring author was stationed at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery, Alabama, awaiting orders to fight overseas in World War I.
To pass the time and blow off some steam he decided to attend a nearby
country club dance. At 18, Zelda Syre was already a prominent figure in
Montgomery's social circles. She completely charmed Fitzgerald at the dance,
but despite his claim that he was on the verge of literary fame, Zelda doubted
his financial prospects and rejected him at first. Still, Fitzgerald pursued
her fiercely for two years, and she finally agreed to marry him in 1920 after
his first novel 'This Side of Paradise' was picked up by a major publishing
house.
Although their marriage is notorious for being tumultuous, the two greatly
inspired each other’s literary careers. The famous line 'I'm glad it's a girl.
And I hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world,
a beautiful little fool,' said by Daisy Buchanan in 'The Great Gatsby', was
actually taken from Zelda’s personal diary.
Clancy's comment: There ya go. Now, you know.
I'm ...
Nice little bit of info! We stopped by a hotel in St. Paul, MN that he went o often, pictures all over the foyer. He apparently lived down the street from my son!
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