The Ill-Fated Lives of F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Wife Zelda
The Beautiful and the Damned
Zelda and her madness — Part 2
She refused to be bored, chiefly because she wasn’t boring. ~Zelda Fitzgerald
(This is Part 2 of the Story of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Read Part 1 here.)
Zelda’s Childhood and Teen Years
As a child, Zelda was a vibrant girl with boundless energy. Born Zelda Sayre on July 24, 1900, in Montgomery, Alabama, she was the youngest daughter of Anthony Sayre, a prominent judge, and Minnie Machen Sayre, a socially ambitious woman with a flair for the dramatic.
From a young age, Zelda exhibited a talent for dance, theater, and athletics. She had charm and charisma that set her apart, earning her a reputation as a free spirit and a nonconformist.
As a teenager, Zelda was known for her rebellious streak and her disdain for societal expectations. She chafed against the constraints of her small southern town. She often clashed with her parents. She smoked, drank alcohol, and snuck out of her parents’ house to spend time with boys. Her friends described her as fearless and attention-seeking.
