The Perfect Life by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald | Published: January 5, 1929

The Perfect Life Synopsis

"The Perfect Life" is a short story by Francis Scott Fitzgerald. It was published in The Saturday Evening Post on January 5, 1929, and in Taps at Reveille in 1935. This short story is a part of the Basil Duke Lee series. Basil Duke Lee was beginning his adolescent year when a former student approached him. Basil decided to lead a perfect life after being encouraged by the former student to set a good example for his peers. He decides to become an advocate since he believes he has had an ideal life and does so at the expense of his love interest.

Excerpt from The Perfect Life Online Book

When he came into the dining room, a little tired, but with his clothes hanging cool and free on him after his shower, the whole school stood up and clapped and cheered until he slunk down into his seat. From one end of the table to the other, people leaned forward and smiled at him.

"Nice work, Lee. Not your fault we didn't win."

Basil knew that he had been good. Up to the last whistle he could feel his expended energy miraculously replacing itself after each surpassing effort.

About F. Scott Fitzgerald

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an acclaimed American novelist, widely considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century and most famous for his novel The Great Gatsby. Born in September 1896, Fitzgerald grew up in St Paul, Minnesota, and attended Princeton University until 1917, when he enlisted in the army during WWI. After the war ended, he moved to New York City, where he wrote his first novel, This Side of Paradise (1920), and immediately gained notoriety. His writing style often focused on themes such as youthfulness, wealth, and love, making him a unique voice in literature. Find out more about F. Scott Fitzgerald at sevenov.com.