Financing Finnegan by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald | Published: January 1938

Financing Finnegan Synopsis

"Financing Finnegan" is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was published in Esquire magazine on January 1938. It is believed that Fitzgerald is satirizing his own downfall in this story due to the amount of self-referencing that was made.

The story starts with an unnamed protagonist who indirectly compares himself with a fellow author, Finnegan, who has the same literary agent. The agent goes on to criticize Finnegan in front of the unnamed protagonist. He defends Finnegan, saying he's a great writer with a typical setback after a brilliant start. The agent believed that Finnegan still had his flare, but lately, he has not had any good ideas.

Excerpt from Financing Finnegan Online Book

Finnegan and I have the same literary agent to sell our writings for us--but though I'd often been in Mr. Cannon's office just before and just after Finnegan's visits, I had never met him. Likewise we had the same publisher and often when I arrived there Finnegan had just departed. I gathered from a thoughtful sighing way in which they spoke of him--

"Ah--Finnegan--"

"Oh yes, Finnegan was here."

About F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, known for his literary works that capture the essence of the Jazz Age. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1896, Fitzgerald grew up in a middle-class family and attended Princeton University but dropped out to join the army during World War I. After returning from war, he moved to New York City, where he met his future wife and muse, Zelda Sayre. Fitzgerald's writing style was characterized by vivid descriptions of social life during the Roaring Twenties - exploring themes such as love, loss, wealth, and class division with a poetic touch. Find out more about F. Scott Fitzgerald at sevenov.com.