"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

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F. Scott Fitzgerald's fantasy about a man born at seventy who ages backwards has become one of his most famous short stories, thanks in no small part to a certain 2008 movie starring Brad Pitt that was, honestly, kind of wishy-washy. The story has more recently been adapted into opera and is about to debut as a New York musical, although the plot bears only a superficial resemblance to Fitzgerald's. (Same for the movie). The question for Fitzgerald fans is whether the premise packs a more significant punch that the actual plot or characters. First published in the May 27, 1922 issue of Collier's, "Benjamin Button" can feel more like a conceit than a fully realized short story, with many of its episodes emphasizing the joke over the humanity. That said, the story offers some important insights into Fitzgerald's feelings for the South (it begins in pro-Confederate Baltimore before "devolving" into the 1920s) and, of course, his lifelong obsession with youth. Curious? Give "Benjamin Button" a try!