Author Description
'I tender these tales of the Jazz Age into the hands of those who read as they run and run as they read.' Tales of the Jazz Age (1922) was Fitzgerald's second collection of short stories, and it contains some of the best examples of his talent as a writer of short fiction. Often overshadowed by his major novels, Fitzgerald's short stories demonstrate the same originality and inventive range, as he chronicles with wry and astute observation the temper of the hedonistic 1920s. In 'May Day' and 'The Diamond as Big as the Ritz', two of his greatest stories, he conjures up the spirit of the age; in other stories he adopts a variety of forms - parody, a one-act play, fantasy - with unrivalled versatility. 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', a tale of a man living his life backwards, features among the 'fantasies' in Fitzgerald's self-deprecatory table of contents, alongside the groupings 'My Last Flappers' and 'Unclassified Masterpieces'. In these eleven stories, Fitzgerald establishes the style that was to make him one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth-century. About the series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
A collection of eleven short stories captures the social volatility and hedonistic spirit of the American 1920s. Fitzgerald explores the aspirations and moral dilemmas of characters navigating a rapidly changing cultural landscape. The stories follow individuals caught between traditional expectations and the emerging excesses of the Jazz Age. Through a mix of satire, fantasy, and social realism, the author examines the fragility of status and the absurdity of human ambition. The narrative framework shifts between traditional prose, parody, and dramatic dialogue to reflect the era's restless energy.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Use of satirical social commentary to critique the upper class
- Inclusion of surrealist elements in stories like The Diamond as Big as the Ritz
- Experimentation with non-linear time in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Incorporation of dramatic structure through a one-act play
- Stylistic variety ranging from lighthearted parody to somber realism
- Focus on the psychological motivations of the flapper generation
- Exploration of class disparity and wealth accumulation
- Self-deprecatory categorization of stories by the author
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on the versatility Fitzgerald displays across these disparate narrative forms. Readers frequently highlight the contrast between the whimsical nature of his fantasies and the biting social critique found in his more grounded stories. Critics often note that while these stories are sometimes overshadowed by his novels, they provide a vital window into the author's developing stylistic maturity. The collection is widely regarded as a significant record of the temper and anxieties of the 1920s, offering a nuanced look at the era's hedonism.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
2012-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
019162733X
ISBN-13:
9780191627330
Fiction
Classic Literature
Short Stories
American
Jazz Age
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