Books

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1922. First printing. Fine in very good plus jacket.. Striking first edition of Fitzgerald's second novel, a sharply satirical portrait of a Jazz Age couple very like the Fitzgeralds. Fitzgerald's second semi-autobiographical novel, holding an outstanding place in the literature on what it is to be young, beautiful, gifted, drunk, and useless. A rich boy sent to Harvard because "there was no other logical thing to be done with him," the cheerful, pleasant Anthony Patch sees his inner foundations slowly corroded by the sure expectation of coming into great wealth; while Gloria Gilbert, who likes to talk about her legs "as though they were a sort of choice bric-à-brac," fulfills the prophecy given her before her birth: "You will find much that is bogus. Also, you will do much that is bogus." Anthony and Gloria find each other, fall in love, and stylishly fall apart as the Jazz Age dawns and the Great War looms. A beautiful copy in the uncommon…

"The Beautiful and Damned" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that delves into the lives of Anthony Patch and his wife, Gloria, as they navigate the complexities of wealth, love, and society in post-World War I America. The story unfolds in the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, a time of societal upheaval and extravagant lifestyles. Anthony Patch, an heir to a substantial fortune, and Gloria, a beautiful young woman from Kansas City, are drawn together by their mutual attraction and shared desire for a luxurious existence. Their relationship initially thrives amidst the glitz and glamour of high society, where they revel in parties, excess, and the promise of an indulgent future. However, as their marriage progresses, cracks begin to appear. Anthony is a would-be writer, but his ambitions are eclipsed by his leisurely lifestyle and lack of motivation. Gloria, once full of life and aspirations, finds herself trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction, yearning for something more fulfilling than the shallow existence offered by their wealth. Their downward spiral is exacerbated by alcoholism, infidelity, and the pressures of societal expectations. Anthony's inheritance is tied up in a legal battle, and without it, their extravagant lifestyle hangs in the balance. As they struggle with financial woes and personal demons, their marriage deteriorates. Fitzgerald masterfully portrays the allure and emptiness of the Jazz Age, painting a vivid picture of a society obsessed with wealth, appearance, and pleasure. Through the characters of Anthony and Gloria, he explores the fleeting nature of happiness and the perils of excess. Ultimately, "The Beautiful and Damned" serves as a cautionary tale about the pursuit of superficiality and the consequences of neglecting deeper values in favor of a life consumed by materialism and societal expectations. It captures the disillusionment and moral decay of an era characterized by opulence and hedonism, highlighting the fragility of relationships and the human spirit in the face of such excess.

First editions of 'The Beautiful and Damned' can be identified by the publisher's name, Charles Scribner's Sons, printed on the title page with the date 1922. They may also have specific errors fixed in later editions.