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Zelda Fitzgerald

Books

9 Famous Authors Who Did Stints in Mental Institutions

By Emily Temple on

Everyone knows that all authors are totally crazy, right? After all, that’s what makes so many of them so brilliant. But today, on the anniversary of Ezra Pound’s federally mandated release from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for the criminally insane, where he had been held for 13 years following his arrest on charges of treason, we celebrate those authors who have actually been institutionalized for their mental illnesses (or, in some cases, for what others thought was mental illness). … Read More

Pop Culture

The Fascinating Inspirations Behind the Names of 8 Famous Video Game Characters

By Jennifer Lewis on

Did you know that Princess Zelda was named after Zelda Fitzgerald, or that Luigi’s name was inspired by pizza? If not, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve always been curious as to where our favorite video game characters got their names, so we did a bit of digging and found some interesting results. After the jump, you’ll find the name inspiration for everyone from Kirby to Guybrush Threepwood to Solid Snake. Check it out, then hit the comments to share your fun character facts. … Read More

Books

Video of the Day: Rare Footage of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald in the ’20s

By Caroline Stanley on

Did you absolutely adore Midnight in Paris? Is there a worn copy of The Great Gatsby sitting in a prized spot on your bookshelf? Then you’re going to be as excited as we were by this YouTube video spotted by Open Culture that features rare footage of the Fitzgeralds back in their heyday, before the Lost Generation icons lost themselves, and Zelda was hospitalized in Asheville and Scott drank himself to death in Hollywood. As Open Culture’s Mike Springer points out, some of the information in the captions is incorrect, and the clip of Zelda being “very lively in a street” doesn’t appear to be her at all; in spite of these mistakes, the footage that does seem legit provides a fascinating, albeit brief, glimpse at one of the most famed couples of the 20th century, as well as their daughter Scottie. We’ve seen photos of all three before, but there’s something about the film clips that feels more intimate — particularly that bit at the end where Fitzgerald is writing at his desk. Click through to check it out now! … Read More

Web

What’s On at Flavorpill: The Links That Made the Rounds in Our Office

By Caroline Stanley on

Today at Flavorpill, we were happy to see a young Bill Nye sporting a bow tie in his adorable yearbook photo. We couldn’t believe how one London theater is dealing with patrons who talk during movies (spoiler alert: it involves Lycra-clad ninjas). We discovered Ballast, a clever new website… Read More

Books

The Most Notorious Literary Party Animals

By Emily Temple on

It’s almost the weekend, and we can bet that means you have at least one enticing soirée on your horizon. But will you party as hard as your favorite author? Literary history is filled with notoriously hard-partying writers, from the decadent Fitzgeralds, flouncing about in public fountains with their clothes on, to the permissive Beat poets, flouncing about in mixed company with their clothes off. Romantic, perhaps, but keep in mind that often the most reckless partiers paid for their indulgences in their health or creative ability, so revel with care. Click through to read our list and take some cues (or some warnings, more likely) from ten of the most notorious party animals in literary history, and let us know if we missed your favorite bon vivant or sultry bacchant in the comments. … Read More

Books

Reality TV Shows About Famous Authors We'd Love to See

By Kim Parker on

Are you more interested in the Brontës than the Kardashians? Does your heart embrace only one Millionaire Matchmaker — Becky Sharp? (Okay, two. Undine Spragg, for name alone.) We lit geeks at Flavorwire see the canned drama of the Basketball Wives, and pooh-pooh. We’d rather tune out, turn off, and reminisce about Faulkner’s drunken Pulitzer Prize speech, or the time Hemingway and Wallace Stevens got into a fistfight. Now, there’s drama we want to DVR! After all, why do reality TV stars enthrall the American public? Our guess is their affluence, good looks, and constant conflict. Well, you know what we say to that? Edith Wharton, Lord Byron, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Literary history roils with glamor, wealth, and — above all — enormous egos. It’s the perfect stuff of entertainment (and art, apparently). So which writers would be on your dream TiVo? Check out our own fantasy list after the jump! … Read More

Books

Fitzgerald’s List of Things for His 11-Year-Old Daughter to Worry About

By Caroline Stanley on

When you hear the name F. Scott Fitzgerald, a lot of things come to mind. The Jazz Age. The Lost Generation. His tumultuous married life with Zelda. His difficult friendship with Hemingway. Alcohol! But the fact that the famous author was also someone’s dear old dad probably isn’t one of them. And in fact, Fitzgerald’s relationship with his only child, Scottie, grew to be just as estranged as the one with his wife in the later years of his life.

This closing from a 1933 letter to his daughter, which was spotted by Lists of Note, reveals that even in those troubled times, he still worried about her future happiness. In case you’re curious about how things turned out for Scottie, she managed to have a pretty normal life for someone who grew up hanging around cultural icons like Dorothy Parker, Picasso, and the aforementioned Hemingway. She went on to become a journalist, writing for such publications as The New Yorker and The Washington Post, and a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. Avoiding her famous parents’ battles with mental illness and tragically early ends, Scottie died in 1986 at the age of 65. … Read More