Zelda Sayre and Scott Fitzgerald’s Love Story Was Passionate and Tumultuous
Zelda Sayre loved Scott Fitzgerald fiercely and passionately, through the highs and lows of their tumultuous relationship. Their enduring love story is a testament to the power of true love, though far from perfect.
By: Ride Hamilton
Zelda Sayre and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s love story was a passionate and tumultuous one that began in the 1910s, during their youth in the American South.
Scott and Zelda first met in 1918, while he was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama, as an Army officer during World War I. Zelda was a vibrant and independent young woman who caught Scott’s eye immediately. She was known for her beauty, her wit, and her free-spirited personality, and Scott was immediately drawn to her.
The two began a whirlwind courtship, which included dancing, drinking, and wild parties. Scott was deeply in love with Zelda, and he poured his heart out to her in his letters and his writing. Zelda was equally enamored with Scott, and she was impressed by his talent and ambition.
In 1920, after a brief engagement, Scott and Zelda were married in a lavish ceremony in New York City. The newlyweds became overnight sensations, as Scott’s first novel, “This Side of Paradise,” became a bestseller. The book was partially inspired by Zelda, and it made her a symbol of the flapper era.
Scott and Zelda’s relationship was marked by both great love and great turmoil. They traveled the world together, living in New York, Paris, and the French Riviera, and they were the toast of literary and social circles. They had a daughter, Frances, in 1921, but the pressures of their careers and their party lifestyle put a strain on their marriage.
Scott’s drinking and mutual fears of infidelity by either drove Zelda to the brink of a nervous breakdown. She was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, though most likely had co-morbidities. Scott struggled to support her and care for her while maintaining his own career, and their relationship suffered. They separated and reconciled several times, but their love still remained strong until the end.
Zelda died tragically in a fire at a hospital in 1948. Scott died a few years earlier, in 1940. Despite the challenges they faced, their love story remains one of the most famous and enduring of the 20th century, and their legacy lives on in their writing and in the popular imagination.
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