Quiz: How Many F. Scott Fitzgerald Book and Short Story Titles Can You Complete?

Many authors will go down as legends for their work. Despite being written decades ago, they stand the test of time, delivering themes that continue to come up in today’s world. F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of them, with novels and short stories that fans will read over and over again. Just how well do you know his works, though? We want to see if you can finish the titles.

Did you score 8/8? We’re impressed! Some of his short stories aren’t as well known as his books, and you’re a true fan if you know them all. Why not share this quiz with your friends and see how strong their knowledge is? And if you didn’t get them all right, use it as a great excuse to go down the Fitzgerald rabbit hole.

When we look at some of our favorite authors, there’s this idea that they had overnight success. That was the case for Fitzgerald, who saw his debut masterpiece fly off the shelves. Yet, it’s not his most famous novel now.

The Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald’s debut novel in 1920. It’s a sweeping story of youth culture just after World War I, and, being published just after the event, it spoke to so many at the time. It sold out its first printing within days, leading to financial security and fame.

However, that didn’t mean that all of his work sold quickly. When The Great Gatsby was published in 1925, it didn’t quite have the same effect. Now, it’s a different story. Most people will remember The Great Gatsby more than The Side of Paradise, thanks to adaptations and reading material in school. Yet, the story wasn’t an immediate hit and took time to take off.

It brought a story of promise and disillusionment of the American Dream. Maybe it’s not surprising that it didn’t take off at first, as maybe nobody wanted to admit that the American Dream wasn’t what they were expecting.

Even the best authors fall on hard times. By the 1930s, Fitzgerald was battling personal demons. He dealt with grief and alcoholism, as well as financial problems. All the success in his earlier career wasn’t paying off now, and he moved to Hollywood to work as a screenwriter. That didn’t stop him from working on a novel, The Last Tycoon. It would go unfinished due to his death in 1940, but it reminded everyone of the master of art he was.

If you love to put your trivia knowledge to the test, we have daily challenges on the Mental Floss quiz page.