F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

Fitzgerald was distantly related to Francis Scott Key, to whom he is a namesake.

His first novel, "This Side of Paradise," catapulted him into wide popularity. It was autobiographical, featuring a male student at Princeton as the protagonist.

Fitzgerald spent the 1920s living a glamorous life and even chronicled his decadent generation with "The Great Gatsby," for which he is best known.

"The Great Gatsby" is arguably the great American novel.

Pub Date: 12/13/98