‘Tender is the night’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald – A BOOK REVIEW

What can I say about Fitzgerald that hasn’t already been said? A crucial aspect of great writing is being introduced to a world I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise; Fitzgerald offers just that. My encounter with the American novelist began with ‘The Great Gatsby,’ which I enjoyed thoroughly. However, ‘Tender Is the Night’ flawlessly immersed me in the flamboyant Jazz era, Fitzgerald’s undeniable forte.

Reputable psychiatrist Dick Diver marries his patient, Nicole, heiress to a prodigious fortune. Set on the French Riviera, the awe-inspiring delineation and differentiability of each character are worth the decade of heart and time poured into its writing. The book captivatingly showcases the rise and fall of the Divers’ marriage triggered by Rosemary, revealing imperfect truths of an otherwise perfect relationship.

If you know me, you’ve heard me rave about the splendid imagery in this absolute beauty of a book. You’ll feel the beach breeze, characters’ debility, romance in the air, and the desolation of a broken heart as if it were yours.

“…with her quick guile against his wining and dining slowness, her health and beauty against his physical deterioration, her unscrupulousness against his moralities –” This expression, used at the culmination of Dick and Nicole’s marriage, is one of the many examples of words exquisitely strung together, forming fathomless sentences. The entire book is fraught with thoughts and expressions that melt into your body, mind, and soul.

However, the intricacy with which the plot started seems to evaporate as the book proceeds, especially by the end where the beauty of language supersedes the intensity of the plot. The denouement leaves the reader with a sense of emptiness and an eerie longing highlighted by Dick’s almost nomadic-like lifestyle. Published almost a century ago, the book holds the reader spellbound, feeling like the protagonist is still out there, practicing in some town near New York.

‘Tender Is the Night’ received unfair criticism in 1934, with critics comparing its storyline and characters’ lavish lifestyle to Fitzgerald’s real life. The story of Dick and Nicole’s disintegrating marriage reflects Fitzgerald’s own dive into drink and despair, and his wife Zelda’s struggles. Beyond the themes of love, money, corruption, and power, the book provides insight into 20th-century perceptions of gender roles and race. Overall, I found this book highly enthralling and would recommend this classic to those who appreciate quality literature and perhaps change the minds of those who don’t.