The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Name: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Born with the physical appearance of an elderly man, Benjamin Button is abandoned by his father and taken in by a nurse at a senior citizens' home. As he grows up, Benjamin undergoes a reverse aging process, becoming younger and more vigorous with each passing year. He falls in love with Hildegarde Moncrief, but their relationship is complicated by his unusual condition.

By F. Scott Fitzgerald · First published 1922 · Genre: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Satire · 11 chapters · 11,220 words

First lines

As long ago as 1860 it was the proper thing to be born at home. At present, so I am told, the high gods of medicine have decreed that the first cries of the young shall be uttered upon the anaesthetic air of a hospital, preferably a fashionable one. So young Mr. and Mrs. Roger Button were fifty years ahead of style when they decided, one day in the summer of 1860, that their first baby should be born in a hospital. Whether this anachronism had any bearing upon the astonishing history I am about to set down will never be known.

I shall tell you what occurred, and let you judge for yourself.

What this Textopian page supports

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is listed on Textopian as a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, dated 1922 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Date: 1922 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Satire, Short Story, Magical Realism
Length: 11,220 words
Structure: 11 chapters, 246 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?
How does this novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The premise of a man aging in reverse is fantastical and explores themes beyond reality.
Literary Fiction — The story delves into complex themes of identity, societal norms, and the human experience, characteristic of literary fiction.
Satire — The narrative critiques societal expectations and norms through absurdity and humor.
Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a limited length.