Save Me the Waltz
Save Me the Waltz
Book Brief
255
Novel • Fiction
New York, Paris • 1920s
1932
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Save Me the Waltz by Zelda Fitzgerald follows Alabama Beggs, a Southern girl who marries David Knight and transitions from a lively youth to a strained marriage amidst glamorous but unstable settings in New York and France, ultimately pursuing ballet in Naples before a foot injury forces her to reckon with her ambitions and her relationship. The book contains depictions of mental health struggles.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
4,402 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Zelda Fitzgerald's Save Me the Waltz receives mixed reviews. Critics praise its vibrant, lyrical prose and insight into 1920s expatriate life, yet some find its narrative disjointed and characters underdeveloped. Despite its flaws, it offers a fascinating glimpse into Fitzgerald’s turbulent personal life and artistic aspirations, making it a unique literary artifact.
Who Should Read Save Me the Waltz?
A reader who enjoys Save Me the Waltz by Zelda Fitzgerald might also appreciate The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Tender Is the Night by the same author. They enjoy Jazz Age settings, complex female characters, and themes of ambition, love, and societal expectations. This reader values lyrical prose and rich, dramatic storytelling.
4,402 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Save Me the Waltz is the only novel written by Zelda Fitzgerald, published in 1932, during a six-week period she spent in a sanatorium.
Zelda Fitzgerald drew heavily from her own life experiences for the novel, including her life with her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and their time spent living in France and the American South.
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The novel was initially met with mixed reviews, with some critics seeing it as an insightful look at the flapper lifestyle, while others, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, were critical of its parallels to their personal life.
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255
Novel • Fiction
New York, Paris • 1920s
1932
Adult
18+ years
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