J. D. Salinger ​

Jerome David Salinger was an American writer best known for his 1951 novel "The Catcher in the Rye". It has become a classic and an often addresed piece of American literature. Although Salinger published very few works, he has been a very influential figure in 20th-century literature.

Quick Facts ​

• His novel The Catcher in the Rye, published in 1951, became an immediate popular success.
• Mostly wrote about young, sensitive, and confused "outsiders" who were at odds with a world of adults who in turn appeared to be at odds with themselves.
• Was notably reclusive, lived much of his life in seclusion.
• Published very little after the mid-1960s.
• His last published story, "Hapworth 16, 1924," appeared in The New Yorker on June 19, 1965.

Background ​

Salinger was born on January 1, 1919 in Manhattan, New York City, into a Jewish family. He primarily grew up in the upscale neighborhood of Park Avenue. He attended a number of schools including McBurney School, Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, and a few others. He began writing short stories while in secondary school, and published several stories in the early 1940s before serving in World War II. In 1951, his novel The Catcher in the Rye was published and became an immediate popular success. His depiction of adolescent alienation and loss of innocence in the protagonist Holden Caulfield was influential, especially among adolescent readers. Salinger's subsequent books were published much more sporadically and he became infamous for his reclusive nature. He died in January 2010, aged 91.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Famed for his introspective and insightful exploration of his characters, Salinger's writing style is profoundly detailed and symbolic. His work, primarily his novel, "The Catcher in the Rye", has had a significant impact on modern literature, known for its raw, honest take on the main protagonist's thoughts and experiences, and establishing the angst and alienation of adolescence as major themes. Salinger’s work, while not voluminous, had a lasting influence on American literature.

Notable Works ​

• The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
• Nine Stories (1953)
• Franny and Zooey (1961)
• Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction (1963)