September 24, 1896

F. Scott Fitzgerald is born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite his well-publicized alcoholism, other illnesses and difficulties, he is undoubtedly one of the most substantial writers of the 20th century. Critics agree that his work is complex, ambitious, powerful and — except for The Great Gatsby (1925), which is very nearly a perfect novel — frequently flawed. Many of his short stories are masterpieces of the form. His novels include This Side of Paradise (1920), Tender is the Night (1934) and The Last Tycoon (1941).