The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and other stories…

Admin | February 4, 2009 | 0 Comments

Unfortunately film-lovers it’s not the Brad or Cate we’re interested in today, but rather the man with the ideas, the man who dissected human nature and pulled apart the dazzling image of the Jazz Age to reveal the tormented soul within.

Fitzgerald wrote the short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 1921, which was subsequently anthologized in his book Tales of the Jazz Age in 1922 along with other short stories including Diamonds as Big as the Ritz. Both stories were written in what Fitzgerald called his ‘second manner’ and indulged in a spot of fantastical musing on the human condition. In fact, in Fitzgerald’s own words: ‘This story was inspired by a remark of Mark Twain’s to the effect that it was a pity that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst part at the end. By trying the experiment upon only one man in a perfectly normal world I have scarcely given his idea a fair trial.’

Differing quite majorly from Fitzgerald’s story, the 2008 film Benjamin Button may be a treat in its own right, but Fitzgerald’s book of short stories is an absolute thrill to read and a must-have for any fans of early 20th Century literature. And once you start reading Fitzgerald, it’s hard to stop! With such literary gems as The Great Gatsby, The Beautiful and the Damned, Tender is the Night, and This Side of Paradise, each with their unforgettable characters and exquisite style, Fitzgerald writes with sincere ferosity exploding across the Twenties.

And although obviously we’re a bit biased here at Queens of Vintage, there’s really no better way to enjoy Fitzgerald’s sparkling style than by treating yourself (and your bookshelf) to a vintage edition of one of his classics.

Click here for Ebay’s fabulous selection or for hardcore book collectors pick up a rare edition at RareLibrary.com