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Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald Paperback – July 1, 2002

by Matthew J. Bruccoli (Author, Editor), Scottie Fitzgerald Smith (Author, Afterword)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 97 ratings
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The standard work on Fitzgerald, revised, enlarged, and updated

Since its first publication in 1981, Some Sort of Epic Grandeur has stood apart from other biographies of F. Scott Fitzgerald for its thoroughness and volume of information. It is regarded today as the basic work on Fitzgerald and the preeminent source for the study of the novelist. In this second revised edition, Matthew J. Bruccoli provides new evidence discovered since its original edition. This new edition of Some Sort of Epic Grandeur improves, augments, and updates the standard biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    696 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of South Carolina Press
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6.1 x 1.5 x 9.06 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570034559
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570034558
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Epic indeed, this is the definitive biography of Fitzgerald, plain and simple. There's no reason to own another. (LJ 10/1/02)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Matthew J. Bruccoli is always able to look through the events themselves to the essential fact about Fitzgerald: his existence as an artist, and not only to how it came about, but what it came to. Some Sort of Epic Grandeur is exactly what Fitzgerald had. It is a perfect title for this book, for the grandeur is there, in the struggle to create memorable work. I fully expect that this will be the indispensable biography of a very great American writer, for the spirit of the man is in the facts, and these, as gathered and marshalled by Bruccoli over 30 years, are all we will ever need. But more important, they are what we need."―James Dickey

"Impeccably researched . . . both comprehensive and judicious... Bruccoli brings Fitzgerald vividily alive."―Newsweek

"This masterpiece contains exactly what we need to know about this dazzling figure."―Publishers Weekly

"It is difficult to imagine any work on Fitzgerald and his literary product that will supplant this one."―The New Yorker

"Indispensable and definitive."―The Times Literary Supplement

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of South Carolina Press; second edition (July 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 696 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570034559
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570034558
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.27 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 1.5 x 9.06 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

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Matthew Joseph Bruccoli

Matthew Joseph Bruccoli

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
97 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Fitzgerald Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars Some Kind of Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2006
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I am an absolute diehard fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald, both his life and his literature. So, I knew when I purchased this book I was bound to scrutinize its every nook and cranny. Well, my scrutiny proved to be a wasted effort. Without question, Matthew Bruccoli is the number one Fitzgerald scholar in the country, and after reading this biography, it is impossible to question why.
Bruccoli covers every aspect of Fitzgerald's life and includes several bits of correspondence to really give readers a look inside Fitzgerald's thinking. --Perhaps my favorite thing about the book is that it does not sentimentalize the author (which I myself have a habit of doing). Fitzgerald is spelled out here in all his glory, yet, we also get to see his unflattering side...paranoia, arrogance, unharnessed alcoholism, and downright neurosis.
F Scott Fitzgerald was a brilliant man whose life became legend. It is my humble opinion that Bruccoli has written the most thorough and best possible biography. Simply put, the read is fascinating. It might be 600 pages, but you will fly through it. It is "never dry" (like Fitzgerald :)) and always entertaining. For Fitzgerald fanatics like myself, this book is a must, but I am convinced that anyone who takes to "human interest" stories would find themselves engulfed in its pages.
Also recommended: "The Romantic Egoists"...a scrapbook collection put together concerning the lives of the Fitzgeralds. It is packed with pictures and is a wonderful companion to the biography. It was also published by Bruccoli.
54 people found this helpful
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Mark H Schipper
5.0 out of 5 stars The finest, most complete biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald available
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023
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This is both the bible and exegesis for those who want to study and attempt to better understand F. Scott Fitzgerald, his art, his life, and the century in which he lived. Impeccable scholarship and quite an achievement from Mr. Bruccoli.
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Amazon User
4.0 out of 5 stars Where is the Audible Version
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2023
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I love the hardcover version of this book! Can this be made available for Audible?
2 people found this helpful
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michelle heimgartner
3.0 out of 5 stars some sort of epic grandeur the life of f scott fitzgerald
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013
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the book came timely. the book was a old library book. it was in OK shape. it had wear on it. mainly had wear on the cover. i love f Scott Fitzgerald so the content of the book was pretty interesting! i would find another buyer for the same book!
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Ben J Korgen
5.0 out of 5 stars The Biggest And Best F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2013
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This is a substantive biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald without undue emphasis on any particular phase of his life. It was published in 1981 by the University of South Carolina Press. It is a paperback book, 656 pages long and graced by many well-chosen black-and-white photographs. It is one of only three Fitzgerald biographies recommended by the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society which describes it as the definitive biography of the three. Based on mountains of research, the author reveals Fitzgerald's party- and alcohol-based life as it probably was, but does not use this as a weapon to downgrade Fitzgerald as a writer. My experience with this biography leaves me with the impression that Fitzgerald was one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century whose early need to make money writing magazine articles allowed him to be negatively stigmatized and reduced his output of novels to a point that allows some critics to underestimate his legacy.
24 people found this helpful
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Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars sublime
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2011
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I've read my fair share of biographies about writers- everyone from Theodore Dreiser to Jean Rhys to the Brontes and Edith Wharton to Hans Christian Anderson- just to name a few. From the obscure to the iconic. This of course is a bio of an iconic writer, but it is not for that reason that it tops my list. I don't know what exactly the magic of this bio is- the author's exhaustive, encyclopedic knowledge of Fitzgerald, his obvious love for his subject, or the magic of Fitzgerald himself. A mixture of all three, probably. If you have any interest in F. Scott, this is the book for you. A page turner that will break your heart.
13 people found this helpful
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Keith R. Gilbert
5.0 out of 5 stars The style of writing flows easily and for those seeking to understand what people and ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017
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While there are several biographies of Fitzgerald, this is the most comprehensive and up-to-date, especially this second edition. The style of writing flows easily and for those seeking to understand what people and events went into making Fitzgerald the writer, this is the biography for you. The volume contains all of the necessary scholarly apparatus (bibliography, notes, and index) and will serve the Fitzgerald scholar as well as the aficionado.
10 people found this helpful
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Cheri Yoder
2.0 out of 5 stars More of a Textbook
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023
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I had to order this for my book club because it wasn’t available at my library. Unless you’re a big fan of FSF, you will find it boring. There were some interesting facts about the time period. I enjoyed watching the program about Zelda on Amazon a lot more than this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

Siward Atkins
5.0 out of 5 stars A Definitive Delight
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2007
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This is very much a biography of F Scott Fitzgerald the writer, rather than F Scott Fitzgerald the husband, or drunk, or party animal. It is full of fascinating details on how he conceived, planned and composed his work, as well as on the more practical side of his writing life, like his relationship with his publisher, Max Perkins, and agent, Harold Ober, his contracts with publishers and Hollywood studios, earnings and so on.

This is a good thing. In hearing so much about what Fizgerald is infamous for, one can overlook the fact that, when he actually got around to working, he was a resourceful, meticulous and highly disciplined professional writer. This book brings that out very well. It's touching, in fact, to see to what pains he went in even the most trivial magazine stories that he had to churn out to keep and Zelda and him in the style of life they required. It's sad as well, of course, because you start to wonder how many Gatsbys he might have written if he had not had to write those stories. But even here the book has something to surprise us, as it shows clearly that he could never have lived on his masterpieces anyway. In 1929, for example, he was earning $4,000 a story but his income from all his novels was something less than $1000 in that year.

Unlike many other "definitive" biographies, this book is never too dry, long or detailed. Bruccoli's style is lucid and relaxed but always serious. His tone is pitch perfect, as he modulates between glowing admiration for the author and sorrowful concern for the man - the latter, however, with not a hint of prudish indignation or condescension in it.

It is a complete delight from start to finish.
18 people found this helpful
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Ms. T. Fleming
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2010
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I love this book. If like me you are studying one of Fitzgerald's novels then this is a must. Great insight into the author, his life and his writing. Its really well
written, a joy to read.Really useful for essays on Fitzgerald's literature e.g. "The Great Gatsby", I got some fab quotes. My copy is second hand,£9.00, it arrived in excellent condition saving me £20.00 on new price.
3 people found this helpful
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Margaret
4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2020
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Powerful and moving account of the great American writer Scott Fizgerald. If you are interested in this writer it is worth the read.
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