6 Must-Read F. Scott Fitzgerald Books About the Jazz Age

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Chances are you were first introduced to F. Scott Fitzgerald in high school, when your American Lit teacher assigned The Great Gatsby.

But while Gatsby is no doubt Fitzgerald’s most successful novel (and one of his best, which is why we included it on this list), it tends to overshadow the author’s other works that are among the best of the twentieth century.

So if you fell in love with The Great Gatsby, or if you’re enchanted by the Jazz Age and Roaring 20s, you owe it to yourself to check out the rest of Fitzgerald’s bibliography.

6 Must-Read F. Scott Fitzgerald Books

Below are 6 of Fitzgerald’s best works, including all four novels published during his lifetime.

1. This Side of Paradise

“I’m a romantic; a sentimental person thinks things will last, a romantic person hopes against hope that they won’t.”

This Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald’s first full-length novel (and my personal favorite), debuting in 1920. It depicts the prosperity and booming consumerism that emerged in the U.S. during that time. It follows protagonist Amory Blaine, an attractive, egotistical, but socially clueless young man from the Midwest who’s sure he’s got an “exceptionally promising” future as a VIP ahead of him.

Amory leaves Minnesota to dabble in literature at Princeton, while also exploring New York and experiencing several failed attempts at romance when his ego gets the best of him. Much like Gatsby, This Side of Paradise explores themes of love damaged by status seeking and greed.

Fitzgerald believed that landing the publishing deal for this book would impress his ex-girlfriend Zelda, and indeed after its publication she finally agreed to marry him. It’s believed that Amory is loosely based on Fitzgerald.

2. The Great Gatsby

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 and is no doubt Fitzgerald’s most popular work, but it was considered a commercial flop until after World War II. It’s often regarded as an example of “The Great American Novel.”

The novel examines the elusiveness of the American dream, as well as the idea of class permanence, as Jay Gatsby tries in vain to reinvent himself and win Daisy Buchanan’s love with flashy parties and his elaborate lifestyle.

3. The Beautiful and the Damned

“I don’t care about truth. I want some happiness.”

Another Fitzgerald novel about—surprise!—love and greed.

Published in 1922, The Beautiful and the Damned is Fitzgerald’s second novel. It portrays New York café society and the lives of the East Coast-elite in the years leading up to and following WWI.

Protagonist Anthony Patch is a socialite and the presumptive heir to his grandfather’s large fortune. He marries Gloria, in a marriage characterized by alcoholism, partying, adultery, and their preoccupation with wealth and status.

When they discover that Anthony won’t inherit a penny from his grandfather, their debauchery only escalates. It’s been said that this novel was also inspired by Scott and Zelda’s own insecurities.

4. Tender Is the Night

“Actually that’s my secret — I can’t even talk about you to anybody because I don’t want any more people to know how wonderful you are.”

Released in 1934, this was Fitzgerald’s first book in nine years, and the last to be published. It follows psychiatrist Dick Diver, and his wife, who is also his patient. As her mental health declines, Dick slips into alcoholism.

Throughout their marriage, Zelda Fitzgerald was hospitalized multiple times and treated for schizophrenia. During her breakdowns, Fitzgerald also fell into a dark period of alcoholism, which is when he conceived the idea for this book.

Though it was not a commercial success at its time of publication, Tender Is the Night is now highly regarded by both critics and readers. Fitzgerald has said it was his greatest work.

5. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

The inspiration for the award-winning film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, few people know that Benjamin Button started as a short story by Fitzgerald, which he published in 1922.

Benjamin Button is born in 1860 Baltimore with the physical appearance of a 70-year-old man and the ability to speak.

His parents soon realize that Benjamin is aging backwards. He gains control of his father’s company, marries, and even enlists in the Spanish–American War, all while growing younger in appearance. Finally, Benjamin finds himself attending kindergarten with his own grandson as he slowly begins to lose all memory of his earlier life and becomes dependent on his nurse.

6. Tales of the Jazz Age

“He had angered Providence by resisting too many temptations. There was nothing left but heaven, where he would meet only those who, like him, had wasted earth.”

Tales of the Jazz Age is a collection of short stories that characterize America in the 1920s. Published in 1922, this collection features 11 stories divided into three parts based on theme: “My Last Flappers,” “Fantasies” (which includes “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), and “Unclassified Masterpieces.”

Each story had been previously published independently, in leading periodicals such as Vanity Fair and The Saturday Evening Post.

What Is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Writing Style?

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing style utilizes a number of literary devices to capture readers’ imaginations, including diction, similes, rhetorical strategies, and imagery.

This is in contrast to Fitzgerald’s contemporary, Ernest Hemingway, who was known for his straightforward, unadorned prose. Check out Hemingway’s best books to see the difference yourself.

What Novel Is Considered Fitzgerald’s Greatest Piece of Work?

Although others like Tender Is the Night have been equally acclaimed by critics, Fitzgerald is best known for The Great Gatsby, which is considered a standard of American literature and, as previously noted, often regarded as “The Great American Novel.”

The book has spurred four film adaptations, including the most recent in 2013, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. It is perhaps thanks to these adaptations, along with the fact that the novel is required reading across many American high schools, that new generations continue to fall in love with this classic.

And we love it too! For more Fitzgerald and Gatsby content, check out our explanations of the most memorable Great Gatsby quotes, as well as a detailed analysis of the book’s final line.

Do you have a favorite F. Scott Fitzgerald book? Share your pick in the comments below!

 

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