The Beautiful and Damned

THE BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED, first published in 1922, is F. Scott Fitzgerald's second novel. It tells the story of Anthony Patch (a 1920s socialite and presumptive heir to a tycoon's fortune), the relationship with his wife Gloria, his service in the army, and alcoholism. The novel provides an excellent portrait of the Eastern elite as the Jazz Age begins its ascent. As with all of Fitzgerald's other novels, it is a brilliant character study and is also an exploration of the complexities of marriage and intimacy.