F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Beautiful and Damned' is a piercing exploration of the decadence and disillusionment of the American Jazz Age. Through the tumultuous lives of its protagonists, Anthony and Gloria Patch, Fitzgerald deftly portrays the collapse of the American Dream amidst a backdrop of hedonism and social ambition. The novel is characterized by its lyrical prose and sharp social commentary, blending elements of tragic realism with vividly drawn characters who oscillate between wealth ...