J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye Salinger in 1951, the year Catcher in the Rye was published

J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye only major novel; most famous Wrote other books of short stories move from New York to the remote hills of Cornish, N.H. –Compound there –Recluse; no interviews, etc. Time magazine cover story in 1961: “life of a recluse”

J.D. Salinger’s privacy invaded Girlfriend: Joyce Maynard –He was 53; she was a 19 year old student –Wrote about him in her 1999 memoir At Home In the World –Sold letters from him for $156,500 Daughter Margaret Salinger wrote Dream Catcher: A memoir

Holden Caulfield Flashback (17 when telling it; 16 when it occurred) Prep school drop out; “screw up” Stream of consciousness, confessional, digressions Unreliable narrator? –Psychological problems/Insane? –Liar –Cynical, jaded, hypocritical?

Censorship First published in 1951 Censored and challenged ever since Considered vulgar: Sex, prostitution, drinking, swearing (the F-word and GD) Bad example for children: Corrupt morals, blasphemy, rebellion, fighting, etc. J.D. Salinger won’t allow it to be made into a movie

Murderous connections Mark Chapman Shot John Lennon Dec. 8, 1980 Was carrying a copy of Catcher in the Rye on him Previously had been signing letters “The Catcher in the Rye” Wanted to kill Lennon because he viewed him as a "phony" John Hinckley Jr. Attempted to assassinate Ronald Regan March 20, 1981 Was obsessed with the book too