The Real F. Scott Fitzgerald Thirty-Five Years Later

by Sheilah Graham

The Hollywood columnist offers a candid account of her relationship with Fitzgerald and of the motives and circumstances behind his behavior during his later years

Genres: Biography, Memoir

287 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Sheilah Graham (15 September 1904 – 17 November 1988) was an English-born, nationally-syndicated American gossip columnist during Hollywood's "Golden Age". Along with Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper, Graham came to wield sufficient power to make or break Hollywood careers – prompting her to describe herself as "the last of the unholy trio."

Graham was also known for her relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald, a relationship she played a significant role in immortalizing, through her autobiographical account of that period, Beloved Infidel, a best-seller, which was also made into a film. In her youth, she had been a showgirl, and a freelance writer for Fleet Street in London, and had published several short stories and two novels. These early experiences would converge in her career in Hollywood, that spanned nearly four decades, as a successful columnist and author.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graham was Scott's lover and constant companion during the last part of his life. She clarifies misinterpretations from other biographies and in some cases completely refutes them. The book contains many letters between Scott and others, especially Scottie, his daughter and lifelong friend of Graham. Scott is portrayed as well-intentioned but thwarted by his "reverse diabetic" need for alcohol, cigarrettes, and cokes. His premature death preempted the completion of The Last Tycoon, which family, publishers, and critics agreed would have been his greatest work and the greatest novel about the Hollywood culture of that time.

[lisa_emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read, non-gossipy memoir of the last days between the gossip columnist and F. Scott Fitzgerald. An intimate viewpoint into the complex and infuriatingly bipolar writer's life and personality. Graham's take is fair and restrained, yet she does look into some reasons why Fitzgerald lived as he did. Also includes some insights on the creative collabouration between the two writers.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved reading about Fitzgerald’s life and the details of his final years; I would give the information/facts in the book 3 stars. Sheila Graham’s writing, however, earns 2 stars; it’s very one dimensional and at times doesn’t seem to connect when she’s telling a story. The final chapters left me feeling very disappointed in her as a person. She seemed like she was looking for fame and glory by being connected to the famous author.

[Mathilde · Rating 2 out of 5]

no idea why I bought this lol