"The Offshore Pirate" is a

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

written by

F. Scott Fitzgerald Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he popularize ...

in 1920. It is one of eight short stories included in Fitzgerald's first published collection, '' Flappers and Philosophers''. The story was first published in the May 29, 1920 issue of ''

The Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...

'' and illustrated by Leslie L. Benson. The story was Fitzgerald's third appearance in the magazine that month. It demonstrates his rapid development as a versatile fiction writer. It is the first story that develops Fitzgerald's recurrent plot idea of a heroine won by her lover's performance of an extraordinary deed.

Plot summary

The story is about Ardita Farnam, she is on a trip to Florida. Her boat is eventually captured by pirates, she falls in love with their captain. The story had originally ended with the weak explanation that it was all Ardita's dream. Fitzgerald rewrote the conclusion to emphasize the reality of the story: "The last line takes Lorimer he editor of the Postat his word. It is one of the best lines I've ever written."

Publication history

The story was first published in the May 29, 1920 issue of ''

'', his third short story appearance in the magazine that month. The story was republished in the short story collection '' Flappers and Philosophers''.

Adaptations

The story was adapted to film as ''

The Off-Shore Pirate ''The Off-Shore Pirate'' is a 1921 American silent romantic comedy film produced and released by Metro Pictures and directed by Dallas Fitzgerald. The film was based on the short story " The Offshore Pirate" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, of no relat ...

'' in 1921, which starred

Viola Dana Viola Dana (born Virginia Flugrath; June 26, 1897 – July 3, 1987) was an American film actress who was successful during the era of silent films. She appeared in over 100 films, but was unable to make the transition to sound films. Early lif ...

as Ardita. In 2010 an operatic version by Joel Weiss premiered at Christopher Street Opera in New York City.Operas: Joel Weiss. Retrieved July 12 2021.
/ref>

References

Citations

Works cited

* * * *

External links

*
''The Saturday Evening Post'' — "The Offshore Pirate"
( HathiTrust) {{DEFAULTSORT:Offshore Pirate, The Short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald 1920 short stories 1920s short stories Short stories adapted into films Works originally published in The Saturday Evening Post