Considered by most critics to be the definitive biography of Fitzgerald, Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1981), by Matthew Bruccoli, provides a unique depth of understanding of the author and his work.

Fitzgerald's last and unfinished novel, The Last Tycoon (1941), was inspired by his experiences and acquaintances in Hollywood. Set in the 1930s film industry, it explores themes of true love, power, and greed.

Aaron Latham's Crazy Sundays: F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood (1975) provides a context for Fitzgerald's fiction and screenwriting produced during his years in Hollywood. Latham recreates Fitzgerald's day-to-day life in Hollywood, drawing from original interviews, anecdotes, and existing research.

The Great Depression: America, 1929—1941 (1985), by Robert S. McElvaine, provides a comprehensive look at America's Depression years. McElvaine covers economics, politics, entertainment, family, culture, and more.