Fitzgerald-This Side of Paradise

Fitzgerald's first novel This Side of Paradise (1920) was an immediate spectacular success and established his literary reputation. Perhaps the definitive novel of that Lost Generation it tells the story of Amory Blaine a handsome wealthy Princeton student who halfheartedly involves himself in literary cults liberal student activities and a series of empty flirtations with young women. When he finally does fall truly in love however the young woman rejects him for another. After serving in France during the war Blaine returns to embark on a career in advertising. Still young but already cynical and world-weary he exemplifies the young men and women of the '20s described by Fitzgerald as a generation grown up to find all gods dead all wars fought all faiths in man shaken.