1. The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940)

2. Background Information The 1920’s World War I ended in 1918 –America becomes a stronger, more powerful nation after the war, people were full of energy had been in a repression due to a formerly poor economy –money was saved for possible hard times because of the war –now that the war was over, protest and violence followed National prohibition and the “witch hunt” against anyone who disagreed with the majority of Americans provided fuel to keep the rebellion going.

3. Prohibition (1919 – 1933) –the restricted sale and use of liquor –original purpose was to abolish saloons which were thought to be immoral and dangerous to society –brought about bootleggers people who made and sold liquor illegally –they often ran drugstores and other “front” businesses just to sell liquor

4. The Roaring Twenties –a carefree time of wild parties, illegal drinking, extravagant lifestyles especially for the young people in America –a time of change in fashion and music “The Jazz Age” use of saxophone

5. Literature of the 1920’s –also showed a mood of rebellion with alarming topics –more freedom in language and descriptions –new and freer attitudes toward the representation of sex

6. F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography born in St. Paul, Minnesota spent four years at Princeton, left before graduating to join the army during WWI first novel, This Side of Paradise (1920) an autobiographical piece that made him temporarily rich and famous later in 1920, married Zelda Sayre –she was also an aspiring writer

7. they lived an extravagant life in New York City and Fitzgerald tried to support them with writing 1924 they moved to Europe –because it was cheaper to live there –he met Ernest Hemingway published The Great Gatsby (1925) which was a critical success but not a financial success

8. problems: –debts –alcoholism –first of Zelda’s mental breakdowns (1930) returned to U.S. and wrote Tender is the Night (1934) which led to his own breakdown wrote screen plays for Hollywood (1937-1940) –Zelda confined to a mental hospital in North Carolina