Zelda Fitzgerald American writer, wife of writer Francis Scott Fitzgerald Date of Birth: 24.07.1900 Country: USA

Biography of Zelda Fitzgerald

Zelda Fitzgerald, born Zelda Sayre in 1900 in Montgomery, Alabama, was an American writer and the wife of author Francis Scott Fitzgerald. She was the youngest of Minerva Buckner 'Minnie' Machen and Anthony Dickinson Sayre's six children. Zelda's father was a prominent lawyer in Alabama and was known for being strict and introverted.

Zelda grew up as a spoiled child, raised solely by her mother. She was a highly active child and always strived to be the best at everything she did. She excelled at dancing and academics, and as she grew older, she blossomed into a true beauty. With only a few female friends, Zelda had a large circle of admirers.

At some point, Zelda became uncontrollable. She lost interest in her studies, abandoned ballet, and started drinking, smoking, and spending more time with her suitors. She even deliberately shocked the public by wearing a flesh-colored swimsuit on the beach, creating the illusion of nudity. Such behavior was detrimental to her father's reputation.

Before the start of World War I, Zelda met future writer Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, who was serving in the army at the time. Their relationship was tumultuous from the beginning. Zelda had other admirers besides Francis, which only fueled his passion for her. The couple wrote letters to each other when they were apart, and in March 1920, Francis sent Zelda his mother's ring as a marriage proposal. They married soon after and settled in New York.

By that time, Fitzgerald had already published his novel "This Side of Paradise," and Zelda gladly shared in his literary fame. In 1921, they had a daughter named Frances Scott 'Scottie' Fitzgerald. The couple was known for their scandalous reputation and frequently appeared in society columns. There were rumors that Zelda became pregnant again in 1922, but they never had any more children, leading many to believe she had an abortion.

Zelda also wrote short stories for magazines. It is known that her mental state became increasingly unstable over time. The couple moved frequently, living in France and Italy, as Francis became more famous as a writer. His second novel, "The Great Gatsby," had already been published, and he had also befriended Ernest Hemingway.

Zelda became obsessed with ballet in the late 1920s, a passion she had abandoned in her youth. She pushed herself to the limit with training, while her relationship with Francis continued to deteriorate. She was particularly troubled by Francis' close friendship with the brilliant dancer Isadora Duncan. Zelda once even threw herself down a staircase in a restaurant to divert her husband's attention from Duncan. However, her efforts were in vain.

In 1930, Zelda suffered a serious breakdown, which marked the beginning of her lifelong battle with schizophrenia. Her life increasingly revolved around psychiatric institutions. Francis, who was busy working in Hollywood and involved in a romance with Sheilah Graham, accompanied Zelda throughout her hospital stays.

While receiving treatment, Zelda wrote her novel "Save Me the Waltz," which was published in 1932. The book angered Francis as it contained many references to their personal lives. After Francis' death in 1940, Zelda continued her literary pursuits but remained under constant psychiatric observation. Unfortunately, she never finished her second novel.

Tragically, on the night of March 10, 1948, a fire broke out in the Highland Hospital where Zelda was undergoing electroshock therapy. She was locked in her room at the time. The fire quickly spread through the building, including the wooden fire escapes. Nine women, including Zelda Fitzgerald, died in the hospital fire.

Zelda's popularity grew after her death, and she and Francis became the subjects of books and films. Initially buried together in Rockville, Maryland, at the Rockville Union Cemetery, their daughter later had them reinterred in the Fitzgerald family plot at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery.