Short Fiction

Through a mix of humor, irony, and emotional depth, Fitzgerald introduces characters who wrestle with love, identity, societal expectations, and personal transformation. From lighthearted comedies like The Camel's Back and Porcelain and Pink to darker meditations on fate and failure in Dalyrimple Goes Wrong and The Cut-Glass Bowl, the collection highlights the contradictions of the Jazz Age and the human desire for reinvention, success, and meaning. Tarquin of Cheapside A playful parody in poetic form, mocking Shakespearean style. It tells the tale of a lustful student trying to seduce a woman in London, only to be outsmarted by her wit. It's humorous and satirical. Porcelain and Pink A comedic one-act play where a flirtatious woman, Julie, pretends to be someone else while bathing. Confusion and mistaken identity unfold when her fiancé converses with her, thinking she's her sister. Head and Shoulders A role-reversal story between Horace, a serious intellectual, and Marcia, a carefree acrobat. After marrying, their lives switch-Marcia becomes a successful writer, and Horace turns into a vaudeville performer. Benediction Lois, a young woman, visits her seminary-bound brother and experiences a brief spiritual awakening. The story explores the pull between religious faith and worldly life, ending with emotional ambiguity. And many more...