The book The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in The Rye was published in 1951. Originally written for adults it quickly becoming hugely popular with the youth of the era, Catcher is the only novel Salinger ever wrote preferring to concentrate on articles, short stories and Novellas 
The popularity of the book and the ensuing publicity drove Salinger an intensely private person to spend the rest of his days as a virtual recluse.
The Catcher in the Rye – A brief story line
The story is narrated by the main character Holden Caufield who is telling it from a medical facility of which he has been sent to recover from an illness or a breakdown (which Salinger himself suffered from whilst in th
e army).
Holden is a confused 16 year old who is desperate to find himself. He can’t help but see the world and particularly those around him though cynical and somewhat hypocritical eyes.
Throughout the story Holden takes great pleasure in pointing out the flaws in others and his dislike of the people around him.
As the story unfolds you realise one the major twist in the tale is all the traits and mannerisms Holden deplores in others he actually displays in himself.
You learn early on that Holden’s negativity and depression is due mainly to been unable to cope with the untimely death of his brother Alife.
The Catcher in the Rye is a subtitle book that works on many levels, and asks sometimes difficult questions about society in general.
But above all as millions of readers have found out its quite simply an excellent read!
For a comprehensive look at the complex themes running through this book I suggest you consider reading — A Reader’s Companion to J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
Brief Summery about the Author
Jerome David Salinger was born in 1919 Manhattan to the son of a prosperous Jewish importer of Kosher cheese.
School was a restless time for young Salinger finding it hard to fit-in with his fellow class mates.
At the age of 18 Salingers first great love was Oona O’Neill, whom he constantly wrote letters to. It came as great shock to him later on when Oona married Charles Chaplin the comedian who was thirty three years her senior and had been married three times before.
During World War II he fought in the infantry and was involved in the invasion of Normandy.
He was also involved in Hürtgenwald a particularly bloody battle and where the young Salinger witnessed the full horrors of war.
After a spell in hospital for stress Salinger decided to dedicate his life to writing
In 1945 he married a French doctor. They were later divorced and in 1955 Salinger remarried Claire Douglas, the daughter of the British art critic Robert Langton Douglas. The marriage ended in divorce in 1967.
Salinger wrote many short stories between 1940- 1951 being published in newspapers and glossy magazines.
He also wrote articles about his passion Buddhism.
For a more indepth look at J.D. Salingers life I suggest you read — Salinger: A Biography
After the run away success of The Catcher in the Rye and the publicity surrounding the book Salinger lived as a virtual recluse, but unwanted attention was always there. In the late 1990s he was involved in a lawsuit against his ex-lover 
Joyce Maynard and his daughter Margaret Salinger who combined to pen a book of memoirs.
The last time Salinger was in the headlines was in June 2009 after filing a lawsuit against another writer for copyright infringement resulting from the writer’s use of one of his characters from Catcher in the Rye.
J.D. Salinger passed away in New Hampshire on Wednesday 27th aged 91. Its believed he died of natural causes.
classic book was made to read it at school.
sparked my love of books
Im going to dig out me old copy and reread.
dave w