Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

I'd Die for You and Other Lost Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Anne Margaret Daniel

1 review

mer_lovestoread2023's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I do a bit of work on Fitzgerald, so I was excited to read these "lost" short stories. What's exciting about them--and part of what makes this volume valuable for reasons beyond the archival--is how surprisingly good they are. Many readers will know that Fitzgerald exploited the short story as a form when he needed money quickly. While some of his short stories are excellent, for those of us who prefer longer forms, they can seem superficial. The stories in this volume challenge that view. While light-hearted, they take on issues that are surprisingly current: the payment of college athletes ("Offside Play"), premarital sex ("Salute to Lucy and Elsie"), alcoholism and mental health (not a surprise to students of Fitzgerald, but anyway), and marital dysfunction ("The Couple"). Perhaps most surprising are the two draft stories that ultimately became "The End of Hate," in which Fitzgerald draws on family stories of the Civil War. Although Fitzgerald never goes as far in his exploration of these issues as one might hope, Fitzgerald offers depictions of Confederate v. Union soldiers, Native Americans in Minnesota (his home state), and more.  

Anne Margaret Daniels's edition provides insights into his compositional process, publication history, and best of all, offers a peek at his manuscript pages. This volume deserves more readers, both readers new to Fitzgerald and those seeking to round out their appreciation of the author.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness and Alcoholism