J.D. Salinger

Jerome David Salinger Born - January 1, Manhattan, NY Parents were wealthy Didn’t have a great relationship with his dad Went to prep schools, military school, Europe, and college in NY

J.D. Salinger Born in NYC to parents Sol and Miriam: father was Jewish, mother, Catholic Jerome David Salinger Recognized as one of the most popular and influential authors of American fiction during the second half of the twentieth century. Has, by his own choice, remained out of the public eye for most of his life.

Salinger’s Life Salinger’s work reflects a great awareness of the struggles of adolescents who are alienated from the materialistic world of their parents. His only novel, Catcher in the Rye, stays relevant because many adolescents identify with the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Salinger’s craft is marked by keen dialogue, and an awareness of the frustrations of life in America post- WWII.

Experiences in War Drafted into the Infantry in WWII Involved in the invasion of Normandy Involved in a useless battle at Hürtgenwald –Witnessed atrocities of war Suffered from PTSS (post-traumatic stress syndrome), a.k.a. “shell shock”

Publications Early short stories - published in magazines –Story –Saturday Evening Post –Esquire –The New Yorker Stories eventually published in collections –Franny and Zooey –Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters –Nine Stories

Publications The Catcher in the Rye –Salinger’s only novel (that we know of) –Published in 1951 –Immediate success - quickly reached #4 on the New York Times Bestseller List –Book-of-the-Month Club selection – Never out of print - still sells 250,000 copies annually

After Success Couldn’t stand the attention he received from Catcher. Lived the rest of his life as a recluse in New Hampshire In his last interview, he said that he loved to write, but he wrote for himself only