F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Man and His Work

by Alfred Kazin

Literature - Essays

Genres: Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Alfred Kazin (June 5, 1915 – June 5, 1998) was an American writer and literary critic, many of whose writings depicted the immigrant experience in early twentieth century America.

Kazin is regarded as one of "The New York Intellectuals", and like many other members of this group he was born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn and attended the City College of New York. However, his politics were more moderate than most of the New York intellectuals, many of whom were socialists. He wrote out of a great passion-- or great disgust -- for what he was reading and embedded his opinions in a deep knowledge of history, both literary history and politics and culture. He was a friend of the political theorist Hannah Arendt. In 1996 he was awarded the first Truman Capote Lifetime Achievement Award for literary criticism.

His son is historian and Dissent co-editor Michael Kazin.

(from wikipedia.org)

Reviews

[Morleena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was published approximately 10 years after Fitzgerald's death and provides critics' appraisals of his work both as it was published and then after his death and Edmund Wilson's publication of The Crackup. It is somewhat negative in tone, for the most part, with little evidence that these reviewers recognized his lasting impact. It made me sad.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of "tributes, reviews, and critiques", edited by Alfred Kazin in 1951, is of value to any Fitzgerald admirer. Writers whose names are still well-known, as well as many whose fame have faded, offer insights into Fitzgerald from his glorious 'Gatsby' year of 1925, to ten years after his death in 1950. Much of the writing is lovely and insightful. My only quibble is that many of the contributors give identical examples of Fitzgerald's work, but then, they are quoting some of his most famous lines!