Scott Fitzgerald and his world

Mizener is a major Fitzgerald scholar. In this popular work there are many pictures of Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, their friends and their world. Mizener focuses on the life- story and does not provide much commentary on the work. But he does make clear the romantic American mind- sight that ruled Fitzgerald throughout. His quest for experience and his faith that through the experience he could come to the realization of his dream. Reality was harder and more contradictory. On one side the descendant of genteel but poor ' old Americans' and the other of nouveau riche Irish Fitzgerald was a continual striver to belong in social worlds. Mizener chronicles the not especially wonderful tale of the self- indulgent Fitzgeralds in the Jazz Age world, here and in Europe. He tells the story of their romance, and their rivalry , of her betrayal of his sense of inadequacy and yet loyalty to her. He skimps on one central theme and thread in Fitzgerald's life the story of his connection to and devotion to his daughter. Fitzgerald's struggles to make money and his struggles with drink clearly impinged upon his writing, and shortened his life. Mizener to my surprise does not focus and explain the miracle of Fitzgerald's signature piece, his masterpiece, "The Great Gatsby". Instead he contends that the flawed " Tender is the Night" is the deeper work. Mizener also does not really enter the question of the sources of Fitzgerald's immense literary gift and power, the magic and beauty of his prose, and the romantic character of his vision. There is a sense that the work has the details right but really does not get to the heart of what Fitzgerald is. The work somehow lacks the inspiration Fitzgerald's writing was so rich in . It does however provide valuable information about Fitzgerald including the story of his generosity to Hemingway in helping convince his publisher 'Scribner' to take on Hemingway's breakthrough work , "The Sun Also Rises".