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The Beautiful and Damned
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The Beautiful and Damned

novel by Fitzgerald
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Article History

The Beautiful and Damned, novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1922. Fitzgerald’s second novel, it concerns a handsome young married couple who choose to wait for an expected inheritance rather than involve themselves in productive, meaningful lives.

Anthony Patch pursues and wins the beautiful and sought-after Gloria Gilbert. He decides that they can survive on his limited income until he comes into a large fortune he stands to inherit from his grandfather. Through the ensuing years, their lives deteriorate into mindless alcoholic ennui. Anthony’s grandfather makes a surprise appearance at one of their wild parties and, in disgust, disinherits him. After his grandfather’s death, Anthony institutes a lawsuit that takes years to settle. Although the Patches eventually win, by then Anthony’s spirit is broken, he and Gloria have grown apart, and they care about nothing.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.