Three tragic, iconic figures of the 1930s roamed the streets of Asheville, Hendersonville, Tryon, and Lake Lure, seeking inspiration and characters for their novels and short stories. Historian, Bruce Johnson, has literally retraced their footsteps, from the divided Wolfe family home and dusty tombstone shop to Scott's scandalous time at the Grove Park Inn and Zelda's heart-breaking confinement at nearby Highland Hospital. Used as a walking and driving guide or simply as a book to be enjoyed at home, it will enhance your appreciation for these three legendary authors and the charming North Carolina towns where they lived and worked.
The complete title of the book I read is "Tom, Scott & Zelda: Following in Their Footsteps." I think Johnson has written more than one book on this topic, so I'm not sure I cited the correct one.
The Tom is Thomas Wolfe. Scott is Scott Fitzgerald, and Zelda is his wife. All three were icons of the 1930's and tragic literary figures. Alcoholism was a major influence of the men's lives. Zelda soon suffered from mental illness and was in and out of hospitals, eventually feeling more comfortable living there.
I got this book while in Asheville visiting the Biltmore. I will probably hang on to it, because the next time I go there I can focus on walking some of their footsteps. It says at the beginning that the book doesn't have to be read straight through, as I did. It is probably better read "as needed." Addresses are provided. On the back cover are photos of Thomas Wolfe Memorial and the Grove Park Inn, where Fitzgerald often kept a room. There is a lot of redundancy when read from cover to cover. This might be appreciated when read piecemeal.