The Beautiful and Damned (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

F. Scott Fitzgerald (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books; New edition edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140180575
• ISBN-13: 978-0140180572
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,342,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rollicking Good Realism., December 22, 2004

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Yaakov (James) Mosher (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beautiful and Damned (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

``The Beautiful and Damned,'' F. Scott Fitzgerald's second published novel, is a penetrating portrait of the idle rich. It is vital social commentary that previews themes the author would deal with in his next and best book, ``The Great Gatsby.''
The greatest strength and greatest weakness of ``The Beautiful and Damned'' is that it doesn't have even one likable character. The closest we come is Muriel Kane, the friend of Gloria who volunteers for World War I nurse duty, and Joseph Bloeckman, the producer who tries to get Gloria into the movies. Bloeckman's line of work leads one to think his friendship is illusory like a movie.
The story revolves around Anthony Patch, grandson of multimillionaire Adam Patch, and Gloria Gilbert, Anthony's wife. The family name is a clue that something is being masked the way a patch covers a hole. This turns out to be grandpa Patch's sleazy life as a Wall Street operator. His fortune secured, Adam Patch attempts repentance by becoming a social reformer and prohibitionist. If alive today, the senior Patch would no doubt have a talk show on right-wing radio.
Anthony, an only child and layabout Harvard grad, is waiting for his grandfather to die so his life can begin in earnest. Gloria is equally aimless (who says alike repel?). Gloria, also an only child from parents living above their means, complains regularly about odors and people's cleanliness. Gloria doesn't complain about the cleanliness of boozer and smoker Anthony because he comes with the most pleasant smell of all -- the sweet savor of money.
Grandfather Patch proves rather durable and this causes the marriage of Anthony and Gloria to become nearly unendurable. Money gets tight and the couple ventures out into employment with humorous and sad results -- Anthony as a stock salesman and Gloria as an actress.
Fitzgerald's legendary wit is fully on display throughout. He roasts situations and institutions as well as his characters --
On war (p. 249 of the Penguin paperback edition): ``Wilson and his cabinet -- a cabinet that in its lack of distinction was strangely reminiscent of the twelve apostles -- let loose the carefully starved dogs of war, and the press began to whoop hysterically against sinister morals, sinister philosophy and sinister music produced by the Teutonic temperament. Those who fancied themselves particularly broad-minded made the exquisite distinction that it was only the German Government which aroused them to hysteria; the rest were worked up to a condition of retching indecency.''
On peace (p. 319): ``Over in Europe the usual number of children had swollen stomachs from starvation, and the diplomats were at their customary business of making the world safe for new wars...Peace had come down in earnest, the beginning of new days.''
Anthony, survivor of a Job-like experience, finally gets what he thought he wanted. Gloria is back to her essential self. A happy ending? Not exactly. Purposelessness has taken its toll.
There is much biography weaved into ``The Beautiful and Damned'' and that adds poignancy. The lives of Fitzgerald and wife Zelda greatly mirror Anthony and Gloria. It is amazing how a man can embrace a lifestyle yet mercilessly criticize it. This is testimony to Fitzgerald's uniqueness and power. Less honest and less talented people could not produce such work.