Literary legend F. Scott Fitzgerald spent the summer of 1920 in a rented house in Westport working on his second novel, "The Beautiful and Damned." As announced in the June 4, 1920 edition of the Westporter-Herald, "F. Scott Fitzgerald, a writer, has leased the Wakeman Cottage near Compo Beach."
At the time, 23-year-old Fitzgerald was a hot new name on the literary scene. His first novel, "This Side of Paradise" had just been published with great success by Charles Scribner's Sons. He and his bride, Zelda Sayre, a mere 19, had decamped New York City after their planned honeymoon was cut short when they were asked to leave the Biltmore. According to Fitzgerald biographer Andrew Turnbull, the management suggested that they move on because, "the continuing hilarity of their presence [was] considered prejudicial to good order and restful nights" for the other guests of the hotel.
In Westport, the newlyweds were attracted to the rental property at 244 Compo Road South, now a private home. Situated close to Long Island Sound, it afforded Zelda the chance to swim as much as she liked, and was a classic Colonial. Continue reading from The Patch
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