From the moment J. D. Salinger published The Catcher in the Rye in 1951, he was stalked by besotted fans, would-be biographers, and pushy journalists. In this collection of rare and revealing encounters with the elusive literary giant, Salinger discusses--sometimes willingly, sometimes grudgingly--what that onslaught was like, the autobiographical origins of his art, and his advice to writers. Including his final, surprising interview, and with an...
It was 74 years ago on January 31, when J. D. Salinger’s short story A Perfect Day for Bananafish appeared in The New Yorker. The story introduces Seymour Glass, a recurring character in many of Salinger’s subsequent stories along with his large quirky family. Here we share more about the author and his favorite subjects.