First published 1922 ampldquoThe Beautiful and Damnedamprdquo is F Scott Fitzgeraldamprsquos second novel which follows upon many of the same themes of his first novel ampldquoThis Side of Paradiseamprdquo It is the story of Anthony Patch who because of the expectation of inheriting a large fortune from his grandfather is unmotivated to work and floats through various vocations Anthony seeks escape from his unmotivated life through socializing and an increasing alcoholism He is in love with Gloria Gilbert a beautiful young socialite and aspiring actress The novel addresses a theme common to Fitzgeraldamprsquos work that being the moral decline and directionless lethargy that had consumed the American upper class during the early part of the 20th century Set during the Jazz Age before and after the First World War ampldquoThe Beautiful and Damnedamprdquo is a brilliant and tragic character study that explores the intricacies of married life and intimacy Believed to have been based on Fitzgeraldamprsquos own relationship with his wife Zelda the characters of the novel are complex figures that are disproportionately consumed with their pasts unable to act as agents for their own wellbeing in the present This edition is printed on premium acidfree paper
