\\"Babylon Revisited\\" is a collection that features three short stories penned by F Scott Fitzgerald. These stories include \\"The Cut-Glass Bowl\\", \\"The Lost Decade\\", and the eponymous \\"Babylon Revisited\\". If you already possess \\"Flappers and Philosophers\\", his compilation of short stories, then you have already come across this particular volume.
Among these, \\"Babylon Revisited\\" stands out as perhaps the best. It tells the tale of an alcoholic father who is striving to regain custody of his young daughter. He must prove to his sister-in-law and her husband that he is now sober and capable of handling the responsibility. As the narrative unfolds, we learn about the fate of the mother. Those familiar with Fitzgerald's life will notice striking parallels between the story and his own struggles. He too attempted (unsuccessfully) to regain custody of his children and overcome his alcoholism.
Alcohol abuse is a dominant theme throughout these stories. In \\"The Cut-Glass Bowl\\", a punch bowl plays a significant role in the pivotal moments of a troubled family's life. Meanwhile, \\"The Lost Decade\\" subtly yet terrifyingly illustrates how addiction can rob a person of their very life.
The book itself is quite diminutive, a small paperback that serves as a decent introduction to one of the 20th century's greatest writers. However, new readers to Fitzgerald would be well-advised to seek out his most renowned and accomplished work, \\"The Great Gatsby\\". Nevertheless, kudos to Penguin for presenting some of his lesser-known stories in an attractively produced and affordable paperback.
"I am the exception that proves no rules, the limits of your control, the condiment in the dish of life."