This Side of Paradise

Published in 1920 by Charles Scribner's, This Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald's first novel to go into print and was reconstruction of an earlier story called The Romantic Egotist. The plot deals with life in America after the First World War and in particular the romantic experiences of the lead character Amory Blaine who finds that social upbringing and, more importantly, money can have an impact of finding and holding onto the women he falls in love with. This Side of Paradise is very much the autobiographical first novel with Amory Blaine taking the part of Fitzerald in his attempts to seduce and marry first Isabelle Borge and then, when that doesn't work out, Rosalind Connage. Both female characters were based on women the author wanted, indeed, following the book's success, he was able to marry the second; in real life, Zelda his subsequent wife.