Zelda Fitzgerald
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Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (July 24, 1900 - March 10, 1948), born Zelda Sayre in Montgomery, Alabama, was the wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, whom she married in 1920. She published an autobiographical novel, Save Me the Waltz, in 1932. Considered by many of her era to embody the quintessential flapper, Fitzgerald gained notoriety as much for her own exploits and demise as for her role in inspiring many of her husband's most famous characters, especially Daisy Buchanan of The Great Gatsby.
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald was also the influence for the name of Princess Zelda in the Legend of Zelda video game series.
In 1930 she suffered her first mental breakdown, which eventually led to her being sent to a mental hospital. She died in a fire at the Highland Mental Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. Eight other patients were also killed.
Biography
Born in 1900, Zelda was known as a fearless child. Her school career was notable only for her failing grades and apathetic attitude regarding consequences of her actions. She had few friends among girls, but enjoyed an active social life with many admirers.
Her courtship with Francis Scott Fitzgerald was one riddled with obstacles. He resented that she dated other men while pledging her love to him; she was jealous of his writing ability. These rivalries festered throughout their subsequent marriage in 1920, which was punctuated with Scott's alcoholism and Zelda's schizophrenia. The birth of their only child, Frances "Scottie" Fitzgerald in 1921 did little to slow the pace of their lives.
While living in France in 1924, Zelda had an affair with French aviator Edouard Jozan. She wrote a number of short stories beginning in 1925, many of which were published under her husband's name.
Scott Fitzgerald drew largely upon his wife’s intense personality in his writings, often quoting direct segments of her personal diaries in his work. She never commented on this, other than a pithy remark in a review that “It seems to me that on one page I recognized a portion of an old diary of mine which mysteriously disappeared shortly after my marriage, and also scraps of letters which, though considerably edited, sound to me vaguely familiar. In fact, Mr. Fitzgerald—I believe that is how he spells his name—seems to believe that plagiarism begins at home.”
At age 27, Zelda became obsessed with ballet, which she had studied as a girl. She rekindled her studies too late in llife to become a truly exceptional dancer, but insisted on grueling daily practice that resulted in her physical and mental exhaustion. In 1930, she was admitted to a mental hospital and diagnosed as schizophrenic.
She spent the remaining 18 years of her life in various stages of mental distress. In moments of lucidity she composed some of her best work, including her only novel, Save Me the Waltz, and numerous abstract paintings. She died in 1948.