But, the book is almost entirely Zelda's writing. Zelda didn't keep many of Scott's letters, so they aren't here, and apparently his letters to other people are found in other books - not that they "belong" here, necessarily, but I would have liked to hear from Scott himself. For example, Zelda in the hospital: letters from Zelda to Scott are here. Scott clearly is doing things during these periods - including writing letters to hospital staff *about* Zelda's treatment (these letters, I believe, are in Bruccoli's book, F. Scott Fitgerald's Life In Letters).

Much of Scott's thoughts, therefore, are left to the imagination. He's in California at times; he's drinking; he's with their child. Since this book is about their relationship as told through letters--i.e., their own words and thoughts--I wanted his too.

So, I found it rather one-sided and its title misleading. Had I known I wasn't going to read a relationship in letters I may have had a different response. It's absolutely interesting to read Zelda's thoughts and we certainly understand much of their situation through reading this book. So, for what it is, it's interesting. But, for what it purports to be, it's lacking.


Portrait of a Marriage   December 11, 2002
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is a vivid, moving portrait of a marriage told in the couple's own words to one another. While biographer and commentators on the Fitzgeralds and their period have provided their own interpretations of the most famous exemplars of the Jazz Age, Breyer and Barks have chosen to let the protagonists speak for themselves and to each other. The result is a look at two human beings struggling to find their identities, define their relationship, and establish their place in the world relative to one another. That they only partially succeeded but never stopped trying is what makes this collection of their letters compelling reading.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know what the world looked like to those living in, and often trapped in, its confines.


Just not interested   September 8, 2002
 3 out of 22 found this review helpful

I really tried to get into the letters of Scott and Zelda. I thought it would broaden my knowledge of this artistic couple and help me to understand their work. I tried. I failed. I just could not get interested in Zelda's shallow world of parties and dances. I tried skipping to the meatier stuff later in her life; still could not quite muster up the empathy needed to relate to this woman. Her life was no doubt tragic and sad, but I was not moved. Perhaps it is heresy to say, but I still am not convinced F Scott is the great American novelist he is marketed to be; the letters in this book did not keep my attention long enough to desire to get to know them better.