the army shortly after and his station in Camp Sheridan, Alabama would allow him to meet the love of his life and future wife, Zelda Sayre. Although their engagement was put on hold until Fitzgerald was able to make more money, the publication of his first novel, This Side of Paradise, won him instant fame at 24 years old and he and Zelda were married a week later. They spend the earlier part of their life in Connecticut where they begin their habits of spending more money than they have. In 1921, Zelda becomes pregnant with their first and only child Scottie, a daughter, and they move b!
             ack to St. Paul. At the birth of his daughter, F. Scott records Zelda's first words as she come out from anesthesia; "I hope it's a – beautiful little fool" (Milford).
             Shortly after the birth of his daughter, F. Scott finishes another great novel, The Beautiful and the Damned, which was soon made into a Warner Bros. Movie. In 1922, the Fitzgeralds move to Long Island where they become frequenters of huge parties thrown at Great Neck. During this time, Scott begins to write The Great Gatsby, however, his drinking problem begins to worsen and his relationship with Zelda begins to dwindle. The Fitzgeralds are forced to move to Europe in hopes of spending less money as their debts were quickly adding up. While living in France in July of 1924, Zelda began an affair with an aviator that caused Scott to later write "I knew something had happened that could never be repaired" (Graham). In the fall of 1924, F. Scott finishes The Great Gatsby and he and Zelda begin moving around Europe in search of happier times. During these travels, F. Scott Fitzgerald becomes friends with Ernest Hemingway who would have a positive influence on Scott's lat!
             er writings. Zelda and F. Scott remained together throughout the tough years but they fought constantly about him looking at other women and Zelda decided t...