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

2. 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”

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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