Novelist · 1896 – 1940

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Little-Known Facts

  • He coined and popularized the term 'the Jazz Age' for the 1920s.
  • The Great Gatsby sold modestly in his lifetime; its fame came after his death.

Myths & Misconceptions

Was The Great Gatsby a hit when published?

No — it sold disappointingly and Fitzgerald died thinking himself a failure; the novel's towering reputation came only after his death.