Quotes from Famous Authors (4 of 5): F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy."

Quotes from International Writers- Albert Camus

This just in: Nancy Pelosi and Michele Bachmann have agreed to a celebrity women's boxing match at half-time of the Minnesota Vikings-Washington Redskins game in Washington, DC (well, actually the game will be played in Maryland) on Oct. 14th. I'm sure Katie Taylor, the Irish woman who won gold for her country in the sport in London, will be very proud.

Yes, we thought that would get your attention. Of course, it's NOT true. We must profess to being influenced by the satirical publication "The Onion," which stated this week that Barack Obama will star in a Judd Apatow comedy to appeal to young voters.

But, this entry is actually our kick-off in a series of quips from famous writers. We start with the French novelist Albert Camus (1913-1960) who alas lived a short life. The writer who was born in Algeria is perhaps best-known for his novel "The Stranger" (1942).

Here is his quote:

"Any authentic creation is a gift to the future."

http://www.theonion.com

Quote of the Day/Week- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Today's quote of the day is from F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1944), the famed Minnesota novelist who died age 44. Last year, a characterization of him was in the Woody Allen movie "Midnight in Paris." He was played by Tom Hiddleston.

In a tragic irony, his wife Zelda Sayre (known as Zelda Fitzgerald) also died young at age 48 in 1948. She was played in the same Allen film by Alison Pill.

Here are some other quick facts about F. Scott Fitzgerald:

_ Best-known for his novel "The Great Gatsby" (1925), which was made into a theatrical film in 1974 with Robert Redford playing the lead. I found a paperback copy of it at a nifty used bookstore in Wilmington, NC.

_Wrote the novel "Tender is the Night" (1934), which is the same title of a catchy Jackson Browne ballad, released in 1983.

_ A theatre named after him in St. Paul, Minn., was featured in Robert Altman's last film "A Prairie Home Companion"

Here is the quote:

"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy."

Quote of the Day- Carson McCullers

Today, we start a week-long series of quotes from famous American writers since the 4th of July, or Independence Day, was celebrated here last week.

We start with the distinguished Southern writer Carson McCullers (1917-1997), who died at age 50. She had suffered considerable health and personal problems during her short life. Two of her most famous novels "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" (1940) and "Member of the Wedding" (1946) were written before she turned 30. Her work has also been adapted to stage plays and film.

McCullers was born in Georgia, and wrote most of her famous novels while residing in Charlotte, NC.

Here is her quote:

"I live with the people I create and it has always made my essential loneliness less keen."

Quote of the Day/Week- Jackson Pollock

Today, for our series on quotes from famous artists, we are quipping the great American abstract expressionist master Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) who died in a car accident at age 44. On our other blog, we are quoting Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988).

Both artists were subjects of acclaimed independent films. The movie "Basquiat" (1996), which features David Bowie playing Andy Warhol who was a mentor to him in real life, was directed by Julian Schnabel, an artist himself who was also a contemporary of Basquiat when the artist was evolving from a graffiti artist to a no-expressionist in New York in the early '80s.

"Pollock" (2000), was directed by Ed Harris who also played Jackson Pollock in the film. For the role, Harris gained 30 pounds during the late stages of filming to make himself look like Pollock when the artist became a full-fledged alcoholic.

The above image is of Pollock's painting "Gothic" (1944); here is his quote:

"I have fear of making changes, destroying the images, etc., because the painting has a life of its own."

Quote of the Week- Nikolai Gogol

There is always something unsettling about coming across the biography of a person who died young, especially when their age is close to your's!

That happens to be the case with the Russian novelist/playwright Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) who died at age 42, which is just one year older than I am right now!

Gogol is perhaps best-known for his novel "Taras Bulba" (1835) and his play "Marriage" (1842).

Here is his quip:

"Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Beauty will come on its own accord."