Winter Park, Fla. - New truths about writer F. Scott Fitzgerald’s romantic life have been brought to light by Penn State University professor and biographer James L.W. West III in his book “The Perfect Hour”.
Through the help of a colleague and Princeton University, West was able to obtain access to a collection of letters sent to the famous American writer from his first love, Genevra King, who is thought to be the inspiration for many of Fitzgerad’s famous female leads, including Daisy Buchanan of “The Great Gatsby”.
At a speaking event held on September 14 at Rollins College, in Winter Park, Fla., West shared copies of King’s correspondences with Fitzgerald which were bound and preserved by Fitzgerald himself and titled “Strictly Private and Personal Letters Property of F. Scott (Not Manuscript)”.
West found he grew to respect 16 year old King through her writings. “You certainly get the sense of someone by reading documents of this sort”, he remarked.
West went on to explain how Fitzgerald’s intent in reprinting the letters was to use them as a reference for future material, proving he was “more interested in fictional potential... than the relationship itself.”
Thanks to the discovery of Fitzgerald’s letters from King, the author’s work can be better appreciated. “There is a tension in his fiction from realism and insistent romantic idealization”, West said, which is reflected in the letters.
Audience members found the presentation to be both interesting and informative. Keith Leisner, a senior at Rollins College, felt the lecture was very eye-opening. “I’m actually doing my undergrad thesis on Fitzgerald”, Leisner said.
Elizabeth Wilson, who received her Master’s Degree from Rollins, said she appreciated the theme of not separating an author from his works. “I feel that is true of all the arts, not just literature.”
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