A Note on the Editions of Tender is the Night

A NOTE ON THE EDITIONS OF TENDER IS THE NIGHT Lucy M. Buntain University of Nebraska In 1951 Malcolm Cowley fueled a major controversy among critics of F. Scott Fitzgerald with his publication of a revised edition of Tender is the Night. Working from Fitzgerald's own notes, Cowley rearranged the story in chronological order producing "a better constructed and more effective novel."1 Cowley's own assessment of the new edition was echoed by a number of other critics who had been dissatisfied with the structure of the original version: "There could be no better arrangement than beginning at the beginning, at the heights, at the opening of Dick's life."2 "In the revised version our sympathies are properly divided. . . . The achievement of the revision is, in short, to correct a fault of distancing."3 But critical acclaim for the revision was far from unanimous. Milton Hindus argues that the "suggested change of order of the various chapters which was adopted in Cowley's edition of thebook in the 1950's not only fails to improve upon the 1934 version, but on the contrary, weakens it still further."14 His sentiments are shared by Dan Piper, who writes, "The rearrangement . . . did little to overcome his main artistic problems. On the other hand, it did serious damage to the other story about the effects of charm."5 Despite the divided opinion on the merits of each edition, one group of Fitzgerald enthusiasts has apparently made up its mind. Scribner's publishing house, which holds exclusive rights to both versions, recently decided to print only the Cowley revision in the future. In light of the publisher's decision to abandon the original Fitzgerald work, it is a propitious time to compare the artistic merits of the two editions. The major differences between the two editions are structural changes. Fitzgerald's original work opens in the Riviera with Rosemary Hoyt, the young American film star, as narrator. She introduces the reader to a group of other Americans vacationing on the beach. Book One deals with her initiation into this group and her love affair with the charming Dr. Dick Diver. Book Two opens with a flashback to Diver's past, reviewing his promising career as a psychiatrist and his involvement with and consequent marriage to one of his patients, Nicole Warren. Numerous clues in Book Two foreshadow the coming breakdown of characters who have been introduced in Book One. The last book traces the final dissipation of Dick Diver and the recuperation of Nicole. Studies in American Fiction209 Following its publication in 1934, Fitzgerald continued to work on Tender is the Night, hoping to refinish what he thought would be his finest work. His final version, which Cowley brought out eight years after the author's death, restructured the story using five books rather than three. In the revised version, the reader meets Dick Diver as a young psychiatrist in Zurich, then follows him chronologically through the incidents which lead to his ultimate downfall. An entry in one of Fitzgerald's notebooks outlined the changes which were necessary (pagination changed to conform with Scribner's Modern Library editions):6 Analysis of Tender is the Night I Case History 115-157 IIRosemary's Angle 158-162 and 3-56 IIICasualties 56-112 (minus 92-93); 162-171 IVEscape 171-235 V The Way Home 239-315 The original version of Tenderdoes have definite literary strengths. Its opening scenes are among the finest ever sketched by Fitzgerald. Book One presents a vivid portrait of the American expatriate, created with a sureness of language and a sustained richness rarely found in the American novel. Opening in medias res on the Riviera, the novel introduces the reader to the shimmering life of the American abroad. Fitzgerald's prose captures the romantic, irresponsible days of wine and roses enjoyed by this new aristocracy. A gallery of fascinating characters promises excitement and intrigue: Rosemary, the young actress destined for fame on the silver screen; Dick and Nicole, the charming young couple who have an intoxicating aura of gaiety and glamour; Tommy Barban, the well-travelled "soldier of fortune;" Abe North, the promising musician who turns to alcohol...