Arthur Mizener (September 3, 1907 – February 15, 1988) was an American professor of English and literary critic.[1] In addition to authoring the first biography of Jazz Age writer F. Scott Fitzgerald titled The Far Side of Paradise (1951), Mizener introduced the popular interpretation of Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby as a criticism of the American Dream.
Arthur Mizener | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 3, 1907 |
| Died | February 15, 1988 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Princeton University Harvard University |
| Occupation | Biographer |
| Years active | 1951–1975 |
| Notable work | The Far Side of Paradise (1951) |
| Spouse | Rosemary Paris |
| Children | 1 |
Biography edit
After graduating from Princeton University, Mizener obtained his master's degree from Harvard University before returning to Princeton to receive his doctorate in 1934.
After teaching at Yale University; Wells College in Aurora, New York; and Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, he joined Cornell in 1951.[2] From then until his retirement in 1975, he was Mellon Foundation Professor of English at Cornell University.[2]
In 1951, Mizener authored the first biography of American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald titled The Far Side of Paradise.[3] In his landmark biography, Mizener became the first scholar to interpret the final pages of Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby in the context of the American Dream.[4] "The last two pages of the book," Mizener wrote in his 1951 biography, "make overt Gatsby's embodiment of the American Dream as a whole by identifying his attitude with the awe of the Dutch sailors" when first glimpsing the New World.[4]
Mizener noted the American Dream's enchantment is qualified by Fitzgerald via his emphasis on the dream's unreality.[4] Mizener argued that Fitzgerald viewed the American Dream itself as "ridiculous."[5] Following the publication of his 1951 biography, Mizener popularized his interpretation of the novel as a criticism of the American dream in a series of talks titled "The Great Gatsby and the American Dream."[6]
In 1971, two decades later, Mizener released another biography titled Scott Fitzgerald And His World that received critical acclaim but did not achieve the same commercial success.[3] Among his many other works, he wrote a biography of Ford Madox Ford titled The Saddest Story: A Biography of Ford Madox Ford .[2] The novel, The Valley of Bones, by Anthony Powell is dedicated to Mizener.[7] On February 15, 1988, Mizener died of congestive heart failure at a nursing home in Bristol, Rhode Island, at the age of 80.[3]
See also edit
- Andrew Turnbull, Fitzgerald's second biographer and close friend
- Matthew J. Bruccoli, Fitzgerald biographer and friend of Scottie Fitzgerald
- Nancy Milford, Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald's first biographer
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Special Collections Department: Arthur Mizener Papers Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ a b c Special Collections Department: Arthur Mizener Papers University of Delaware. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ a b c The New York Times 1988.
- ^ a b c Mizener 1965, p. 193.
- ^ Mizener 1965, p. 170: Fitzgerald's "main point is that the American dream of rising from newsboy to President is ridiculous".
- ^ The Cornell Daily Sun 1960, p. 1.
- ^ Jay, Mike. (2013) "Who Were the Dedicatees of Powell’s Works?" The Anthony Powell Society Newsletter.50 (spring): 9-10.
Works cited edit
- "Alumni Return to Ithaca for Annual Reunion, To Attend Lecture Series, Special Exhibitions". The Cornell Daily Sun. Vol. 76, no. 151 (Friday ed.). Ithaca, New York. June 10, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- "Arthur Mizener, 80, Critic Who Wrote Work on Fitzgerald". The New York Times. New York. February 15, 1988. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- Mizener, Arthur (1965) [1951]. The Far Side of Paradise: A Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald (2nd ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton-Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-1-199-45748-6 – via Internet Archive.