Books

First edition, first printing, in an exceptional and unrestored example of the first issue jacket. Fitzgerald's second novel brought him "accolades from those whose opinions he valued. Mencken congratulated him for staking out new ground... Fitzgerald was aiming high; he only wanted to be the best novelist of his generation" (Turnbull, pp. 130-31). Fitzgerald wrote to Zelda in 1930, "I wish The Beautiful and Damned had been a maturely written book because it was all true. We ruined ourselves... I have never honestly thought that we ruined each other" (Bruccoli, p. 180). First printing copies have "Published March, 1922" on the copyright page, and first issue jackets have white title lettering on the front panel outlined in black. Octavo. Original dark green linen-grain cloth, spine lettered in gilt, front cover lettered in blind, fore edge untrimmed. With dust jacket, designed by William E. Hill. Housed in a custom tan morocco solander box. Book fresh; jacket unclipped, bright and crisp, with extremely shallow chip near head and rear panel only mildly soiled: a fine copy in near-fine jacket. Bruccoli A8.I.a. Matthew Bruccoli, Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1981.

"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.