The Best F. Scott Fitzgerald Books in Order

F. Scott Fitzgerald, a literary giant of the early 20th century, is often hailed as the chronicler of the Jazz Age. His novels and short stories capture the essence of the era, delving into themes of wealth, love, and the elusive American Dream.

This article explores Fitzgerald's literary contributions, taking readers on a journey through his most iconic works.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Standalone Novels in Order

1. This Side of Paradise (1920)

2. The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (1922)

3. The Beautiful and Damned (1922)

4. The Great Gatsby (1925)

5. Tender Is the Night (1934)

6. The Last Tycoon (1941)

7. Trimalchio: An Early Version of The Great Gatsby (2000)

8. The Popular Girl (2005)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Short Stories and Novellas in Order

1. Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1920)

2. May Day (1920)

3. The Ice Palace (1920)

4. The Offshore Pirate (1920)

5. Head and Shoulders (1920)

6. The Lees of Happiness (1920)

7. The Jelly-Bean (1920)

8. The Camel's Back (1920)

9. Benediction (1920)

10. Myra Meets His Family (1920)

11. Mr. Icky & Porcelain and Pink: Two Short Plays (1920)

12. The Four Fists (1920)

13. Jemina & Tarquin of Cheapside: Two Short Stories (1921)

14. Winter Dreams (1922)

15. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (1922)

16. The Cruise of the Rolling Junk (1924)

17. Gretchen's Forty Winks (1924)

18. Love in the Night (1925)

19. The Rich Boy (1926)

20. Magnetism (1928)

21. The Night at Chancellorsville (1935)

22. Dice, Brassknuckles & Guitar (2018)

23. Basil the Freshest Boy (2018)

24. What a Handsome Pair! (2018)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Non-Fiction Books in Order

1. The Crack-Up (1936)

2. As ever, Scott Fitz--;: Letters between F. Scott Fitzgerald and his literary agent Harold Ober, 1919-1940

3. Dear Scott/Dear Max (1971)

4. The Notebooks of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1978)

5. A Life in Letters: A New Collection Edited and Annotated by Matthew J. Bruccoli (1980)

6. Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F.Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (1985)

7. The sayings of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1995)

8. F. Scott Fitzgerald on Authorship (1996)

9. Conversations with F. Scott Fitzgerald (2003)

10. A Short Autobiography (2011)

11. Dreams of Youth: The Letters of F (2011)

12. The Thoughtbook of F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Secret Boyhood Diary (2013)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Collections in Order

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald's St. Paul Plays, 1911-1914

2. The Apprentice Fiction of F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1909-1917

3. Spires and Gargoyles: Early Writings, 1909–1919 (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald)

4. The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920)

5. Flappers and Philosophers (1920)

6. The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald: A New Collection (1920)

7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: And Six Other Stories (1921)

8. Tales of the Jazz Age (1922)

9. "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" and Other Stories (1922)

10. Glittering Things: Flappers, Fantasies & Tales of the Jazz Age (1922)

11. The Best Early Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (Modern Library Classics) (1924)

12. All The Sad Young Men (1926)

13. The Basil and Josephine Stories (1928)

14. Babylon Revisited: And Other Stories (1931)

15. The St. Paul Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1931)

16. The Fantasy and Mystery Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1935)

17. Taps at Reveille (1935)

18. Poems 1911-1940 (1940)

19. The Pat Hobby Stories (1940)

20. Collected Stories: Lost Decade and Other Stories v. 5 (1968)

21. The Price Was High: Fifty Uncollected Stories (1979)

22. Collected Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald: Flappers and Philosophers and Tales of the Jazz Age (1983)

23. Afternoon of an Author (A Scribner Classic/Collier Edition) (1987)

24. Before Gatsby: The First Twenty-Six Stories (2001)

25. On Booze (2011)

26. Gatsby Girls (2013)

27. The Love Boat and Other Stories (2015)

28. Mystery & Fantasy Stories (2015)

29. I'd Die For You: And Other Lost Stories (2017)

30. The Beautiful and Damned and Other Stories (2019)

31. All of the Belles: The Montgomery Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (2020)

32. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Stories (2020)

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Standalone Novels

This Side of Paradise (1920)

Summary: "This Side of Paradise" is F. Scott Fitzgerald's debut novel that follows the life of Amory Blaine, a young man from an affluent family, as he navigates love, ambition, and disillusionment during the Jazz Age. The novel explores the impact of World War I and societal changes on Amory's character and beliefs.

Key Takeaways:

• Explores the themes of love, ambition, and disillusionment.

• Provides a portrayal of the Jazz Age and the Lost Generation.

• Reflects Fitzgerald's own experiences at Princeton University and as a young writer.

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (1922)

Summary: "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" is a novella by F. Scott Fitzgerald that tells the story of John T. Unger, a young man who discovers a hidden and sinister world of wealth and opulence. Invited to the palatial home of a classmate, he learns of the secret behind the family's riches—a diamond as big as a mountain.

Key Takeaways:

• A satirical examination of American greed and materialism.

• Explores the consequences of extreme wealth and the desire for power.

• Contains elements of fantasy and dark humor.

The Beautiful and Damned (1922)

Summary: "The Beautiful and Damned" is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that chronicles the downfall of Anthony Patch, a wealthy and aimless heir, and his beautiful wife, Gloria. The novel follows their descent into alcoholism, extravagance, and moral decay as they await an inheritance that may never come.

Key Takeaways:

• Depicts the challenges and disillusionment of the Jazz Age.

• Explores themes of materialism, hedonism, and the destructiveness of wealth.

• Provides a social critique of the American upper class.

Great Gatsby (Wisehouse Classics Edition) (1925)

Summary: "The Great Gatsby" is one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novels, set in the Roaring Twenties. It follows the enigmatic Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of the elusive Daisy Buchanan. Through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway, the novel explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream.

Key Takeaways:

• A quintessential depiction of the Jazz Age and the American Dream.

• Explores the complexities of love, desire, and social status.

• Contains symbolism and motifs that contribute to its literary significance.

Tender Is the Night (1934)

Summary: "Tender Is the Night" is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that tells the story of the rise and fall of Dick Diver, a talented psychiatrist, and his troubled wife, Nicole. Set on the French Riviera, the novel examines the impact of mental illness, infidelity, and personal ambition on their marriage.

Key Takeaways:

• A complex exploration of love, mental illness, and ambition.

• Provides insight into the expatriate experience in Europe during the 1920s.

• Considered by some to be Fitzgerald's most personal and autobiographical novel.

Modern Classics the Last Tycoon (1941)

Summary: "The Last Tycoon," an unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, follows the life of Hollywood producer Monroe Stahr as he navigates the challenges of the film industry and his personal life. The novel offers a behind-the-scenes look at the glamour and corruption of 1930s Hollywood.

Key Takeaways:

• Provides a realistic and critical portrayal of the Hollywood film industry.

• Explores themes of power, love, and the fleeting nature of success.

• Notable for being Fitzgerald's final and unfinished work, published posthumously.

Trimalchio: An Early Version of The Great Gatsby (2000)

Summary: "Trimalchio: An Early Version of The Great Gatsby" is an earlier draft of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel "The Great Gatsby." The manuscript, with notable differences from the final version, provides insight into Fitzgerald's writing process and the evolution of the novel.

Key Takeaways:

• Offers a unique perspective on the development of "The Great Gatsby."

• Contains variations in plot, character, and dialogue from the published version.

• Named after the character Trimalchio from the Roman work "Satyricon," who parallels Gatsby's lavish lifestyle.

The Popular Girl (2005)

Summary: "The Popular Girl" is a collection of ten short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Originally published in popular magazines of the 1920s and 1930s, the stories center around young, attractive, and often troubled women navigating the complexities of love and social status.

Key Takeaways:

• Features ten short stories that showcase Fitzgerald's versatility as a writer.

• Explores themes of beauty, youth, and the pursuit of happiness.

• Provides a glimpse into the societal expectations and challenges faced by women of the era.

Fitzgerald's Enduring Legacy

F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary legacy continues to resonate with readers and scholars worldwide. His timeless works offer a window into the opulence and disillusionment of the Jazz Age, capturing the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Whether through his novels or his rich array of short stories and essays, Fitzgerald's mastery of language and storytelling remains an integral part of American literature.

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