The Four Fists

"He had no plans, no definite intentions, except to kiss her lips again, to hold her in his arms." F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Four Fists (1920)

The Four Fists (1920) was first published as part of a collection of short stories, Flappers and Philosophers (also available from Cosimo Classics) and features Samuel Meredith, a man whose face seems to be quite hittable. The fists to the face begin when he is an arrogant student in boarding school, punched for his superiority. Samuel does not fight back but rather takes the first hit and the three subsequent fists to the face. Instead of producing a negative reaction, the hits help Samuel achieve success in life. A character study with morality undertones, this is essential reading for fans of Fitzgerald's well-crafted prose.