Z A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

Author:Therese Anne Fowler [Fowler, Therese Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2013-03-26T06:00:00+00:00

25

October: Scott found me in the Villa Marie garden taking in the inspiring Mediterranean view for what would be one of the last times that year. “Here.” He handed me a piece of paper that read,

Trimalchio

High Bouncing Lover

Among Ash Heaps and Millionaires

Trimalchio of West Egg

Gold Hatted Gatsby

On the Road to West Egg

Under the Red White and Blue

The Great Gatsby

Our lease would end when the month did, and then we’d migrate elsewhere the way the birds and our friends were all doing—most to Paris, some to Venice, or London, or Berlin. I’d persuaded Scott to tour Rome and Capri so that I could see a lot of the art and some of the artists that I’d been hearing about from the Murphys during our visits with them. After the tour, we’d get a place in Paris and—we reassured each other—be even more responsible about the partying and drinking and our marriage than we’d been here.

In Paris, we’d await and then celebrate his third novel’s publication; he was more certain than ever that he’d accomplished everything he’d set out to do with this book, and at the same time he was terrified that he hadn’t.

“What do you think?” he asked now. “I’m torn. I’ve been leaning toward one of the Trimalchio titles, but Max thinks the association’s too obscure. I could make more of it in the book, I suppose—but I hate the thought of spoon-feeding my readers. God, I do too much of that for the slicks as it is. Still, Trimalchio of West Egg is a great title; it might be worth Nick making a little narrative sidestep in order to share the background.”

This being my third go-round with Scott and his novels in prepublication madness, I knew there was no shortcut out of the anxiety; we both had to endure it the way you endure the headache, nausea, and malaise of a hangover.

As was now our tradition, I’d read his draft—had just finished the new one, in fact—and had been gathering my thoughts while I sat there. “Before we get into titles,” I told him, “I have to say that there’s something still kinda blurry about Gatsby. I can see Tom and Daisy, and Myrtle’s poor husband! And even Nick is clear enough.… Maybe it’s that Gatsby’s history is murky. Wouldn’t people know something about him? Or think they did?”

Scott crossed his arms. “These people don’t care about how he made his money, they only care that he’s rich and throws insanely great parties.”

“You wanted my opinion.”

“I did, I know.” He uncrossed his arms. “Thank you.”

“For titles, I like The Great Gatsby.”

“You do?” He looked disappointed. “Really?”

“Really.”

“That’s the one Max wants, too.”

“Remember when you revised the end of Beautiful and Damned?”

Scott sighed. “I’m too close to the work, that’s what you’re saying.”

“That’s what I’m saying. So listen, the Murphys are just about to pack up and head back to Saint-Cloud. While you’re stewing over edits and titles and such, let’s take Scottie over to see Patrick—she’s been asking forever—and we can celebrate her birthday a little early.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.