J.D. Salinger
Historical Figure Project -- Jack Belter
Brief Biography
- Born in New York, New York on January 1, 1919
- Perceived as smart at a young age, but not extremely successful in school
- After dropping out of school he joins a military school
- After Graduating Military school, has a go at college multiple times. Ends up going to Night Schools at Columbia
- Right before his career as a writer is about to take off, drafted into World War 2
- Landed on Normandy Beach, at the time of his military service he began to write his most notable novel, Catcher in the Rye
- Sent to the Hospital for a Nervous Breakdown, this is where he met his first wife Sylvia, a German nurse
- In 1955 married again to Claire Douglas and had 2 children
- Publlished his book Catcher in the Rye, although very popular many critics criticized it for its immoral views.
- After huge literary fame from the Catcher in the Rye, Salinger became extremely reclusive and slowed down his writing.
- Only published one new work in 1965 called "Hapworth 16, 1924"
- Continued to write throughout his life but because he cut off contact with the outside world, almost all of those stories went unpublished
“One day a long time from now you'll cease to care anymore whom you please or what anybody has to say about you. That's when you'll finally produce the work you're capable of.”
J.D. Salinger in Another Time Period
If I had J.D. Salinger's Writing Skills
Historical Impact/Parallels
Catcher in the Rye was also the target of many book banning movements. It is noted as being the most censored book in High Schools and Libraries between 1961 and 1982 mainly for its use of vulgar language and sexual references.
The Catcher in The Rye
The novel follows Holden Caufield, a 16 year old boy filled with grief after the death of his younger brother. He has trouble connecting with his peers and has no friends at the private school he attends. Holden has trouble identifying himself and constantly has a cynical attitude toward life. The only person he really trusts and has optimism for is his younger sister Phoebe who still exudes the innocence of youth he yearns for.
Salinger explores the use of a lot of slang and common talk throughout the novel, and the novel is similar to how Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn uses slang in the narraration and not just the dialogue. At the time when it was published, the language and slang used was very controversial.
From The Catcher in the Rye
-Chapter 2
"People never believe you."
-Chapter 5
"Sensitive. That killed me. That guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a toilet seat."
-Chapter 8
Work Cited
"J.D. Salinger Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 22 April. 2015.
"J.D Salinger." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 April. 2015.
"J.D. Salinger." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
13, April. "Holden Caulfield: Not as Radical as he Seems." The Rabbit Newspaper.The Rabbit Newspaper, 13 April. 2001. Web. 22 April. 2015.
"The Catcher in the Rye." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 April. 2015.