BAUMAN RARE BOOKS 24 “Flashes Of Genius By An Expert In Self-Destruction” First edition, in scarce first-issue dust jacket, of “Fitzgerald’s most ambitious work, his intended masterpiece.” Fitzgerald began Tender is the Night in 1925, the same year The Great Gatsby was published. He knew he had written a most important book in Gatsby but felt that his career hinged on the follow-up. By the time he finished Tender in 1933, however, his life had taken several tortuous turns: Zelda’s breakdown and the onset of the Great Depression darkened Fitzgerald’s sensibilities, a shift which became evident in portions of the book. Cyril Connolly called Tender is the Night “a wonderful evocation of the second phase of American expatriates ensconced in glittering villas on the Riviera in contrast to the home-spun tipplers of The Sun Also Rises. The break-down of a marriage is described with flashes of genius by an expert in self-destruction” (Modern Movement, 79). This was “Fitzgerald’s most ambitious work, his intended masterpiece” (Turnbull, 241-6). Firstissue dust jacket, with blurbs by Eliot, Mencken and Rosenfeld on front flap. Bruccoli A15.I.a. Book nearfine, with faint discoloration to top of rear board; very good dust jacket with chipping to extremities, affecting imprint on spine, a few spots, minor expert restoration along folds. 30FITZGERALD, F. Scott. Tender is the Night. New York, 1934. Octavo, original green cloth, dust jacket. $16,500
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