F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the foremost writers of the 1920s and a leading figure in the movement known as the Lost Generation, died of a heart attack on December 21, 1940 at the age of 44. His sudden and untimely death marked the end of a career that had produced some of the most enduring works of the 20th century, including "The Great Gatsby," "This Side of Paradise," and "Tender is the Night."
Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1896 and attended Princeton University, where he began writing fiction and poetry. After serving in World War I, Fitzgerald moved to New York City, where he became a member of the literary and artistic circles that included Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. It was during this time that he met and married Zelda Sayre, a Southern belle and fellow aspiring writer who would become his lifelong muse and collaborator.
Fitzgerald's early career was marked by great success, as his writing brought him fame and wealth. However, he struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues throughout his life, and his marriage to Zelda was tumultuous. Despite these challenges, Fitzgerald continued to produce a steady stream of fiction and essays, and his work was widely acclaimed for its insights into the human condition and its portrayal of the extravagance and excess of the Jazz Age.
Fitzgerald's health had been in decline in the years leading up to his death, and he had struggled with a number of ailments, including tuberculosis and high blood pressure. On the night of December 20, 1940, Fitzgerald suffered a heart attack and was taken to a hospital in Hollywood, where he died the following day. His death was met with widespread mourning, and he was remembered as a brilliant and talented writer who had made a lasting contribution to American literature.
In the years since his death, Fitzgerald's work has continued to be widely read and studied, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. His legacy lives on through his enduring works of fiction, which continue to captivate and inspire readers around the world.