All the Sad Young Men

"All the Sad Young Men" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. This compilation reflects the complexities of life in the Jazz Age, exploring themes of wealth, love, and existential disillusionment through intricate character studies. The stories often focus on the lives of young men and women grappling with the pressures and superficiality of their social milieu, providing a poignant commentary on the American dream and its discontents. The opening portion of the collection introduces a story called "The Rich Boy," centered around Anson Hunter, a wealthy young man born into privilege. The narrative delves into Anson's psychological landscape, examining how his wealth shapes his identity and relationships. Although Anson possesses charm and confidence, he navigates a complicated emotional world characterized by self-awareness, cynicism, and a hesitant romantic involvement with a girl named Paula Legendre. As he pursues a relationship with Paula, Fitzgerald explores the dichotomy of Anson's superficial advantages versus the profound loneliness and inner turmoil that accompany his life as a member of the elite class. This sets the tone for the themes of disappointment and alienation that run throughout the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, widely known simply as Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age, a term he popularized in his short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age. During his lifetime, he published four novels, four story collections, and 164 short stories. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s, Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.