The Unexpected Career Paths of Kafka, T.S. Eliot, and Scott Fitzgerald

When we think of great literary figures, we often imagine them as artists, poets, or academics. However, many celebrated authors actually started their careers in finance, drawn to the security and stability that a career in business could offer. In this post, we will explore the unexpected career paths of three literary giants: Franz Kafka, T.S. Eliot, and Scott Fitzgerald.

Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka is widely considered one of the most important writers of the 20th century, known for his surrealist and existentialist works that explore themes of alienation, bureaucracy, and the absurd. However, before becoming a writer, Kafka worked as an insurance executive for much of his adult life.

Kafka began working for an insurance company in Prague in 1908, where he remained for nearly a decade. He was initially drawn to the job for its stability and the financial security it provided, allowing him to support his family while pursuing his writing in his spare time. However, Kafka ultimately found the work unfulfilling and frustrating, and it was during this period that he began to write his most famous works, including "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial."

T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot is known for his influential poetry and criticism, including "The Waste Land" and "Four Quartets," which are considered among the greatest works of modernist literature. However, before becoming a writer, Eliot pursued a career in finance, working as a clerk at Lloyds Bank in London.

Eliot began working at Lloyds in 1917, while also pursuing his studies in philosophy and literature. Although he found the work monotonous and unfulfilling, the job provided him with a steady income and allowed him to continue his literary pursuits in his free time. Eliot continued to work in finance even after he began publishing his poetry, and it wasn't until 1925 that he was able to quit his job and focus on his writing full-time.

Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald is best known for his novel "The Great Gatsby," which is widely considered a masterpiece of American literature. However, before becoming a writer, Fitzgerald worked as a bond salesman on Wall Street.

Fitzgerald began working as a bond salesman in 1919, just before the stock market crash of 1920. He found the work exhausting and uninspiring, and it was during this period that he began writing short stories and articles for magazines. Although Fitzgerald achieved success as a writer relatively early in his career, his financial struggles continued throughout his life, and he frequently had to rely on the income from his writing to support himself and his family.

Conclusion

The careers of Kafka, Eliot, and Fitzgerald illustrate the potential tension between creative aspirations and the practicalities of earning a living, these literary figures prove that it is possible to find a balance between financial security and artistic fulfilment, and that the two need not be mutually exclusive.

More broadly, it’s a reminder that there are many ways of living and that we needn’t find ourselves trapped by our past decisions and lifestyles.