Fitzgerald, F. Scott | The Beautiful and Damned, first edition

Fitzgerald, F. Scott 

The Beautiful and Damned. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1922

8vo. Half-title; light toning, text block a little weak between pp. 306–307. Original green cloth, upper cover stamped in blind, spine gilt-lettered; slight split to head of spine. Original dust jacket with W.E. Hill illustration printed in orange, black, and white; some soiling, chips to edges and corners, some loss to text at head of the spine panel, one closed and one open tear to spine panel, some sunning to spine. Custom black and orange clamshell case.

First edition of Fitzgerald's second novel. 

The Beautiful and Damned follows a Jazz Age couple, their obsession with anticipated wealth, and their subsequent downfall. One of the works most notable reviews was composed by his wife, Zelda Fitzgerald: “Mr. Fitzgerald—I believe that is how he spells his name—seems to believe that plagiarism begins at home.” Zelda further remarked that she recognized large sections of her personal diaries present in the novel. Although damning in many respects, Zelda's appraisal ultimately helped generate sales. It was a “scheme to bank on the public’s fascination with them as the ideal Jazz Age couple: young, energetic, quick to wealth, and easy-going in all ways” (Zarevich). 

REFERENCES 

Bruccoli A.81AA; Zarevich, “Zelda Fitzgerald on F. Scott’s Writing,” JSTOR Daily