1919-2010

Explores the themes, context, criticism, and influence of J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" and discusses how the reader can better understand the text. Provides tips and advice on language, style, and form and features a collection of further reading sources.

A study of J.D. Salingers' short stories, many of which initially appeared in the New Yorker during the 1950s and 1960s.

A biography of reclusive American author J.D. Salinger, providing details of his early life, his student years, his wartime experiences, and his romances; and discussing Salinger's career and the deepening introspection that led to his withdrawal from the world.

A collection of essays in which fourteen contemporary writers discuss how their lives and work have been influenced by the writings of J.D. Salinger.

A biography of American author J.D. Salinger.

Analyzes six of J.D. Salinger's short stories; includes plot summaries, biographical information, critical essays, and discussions of the stories' themes and ideas.

A collection of critical essays discussing J.D. Sallinger's The catcher in the rye.

Literary Masterpieces is one series of the trio that makes up the Gale Study Guides to Great Literature (the others are Literary Topics and Literary Masters). Each Literary Masterpieces volume chooses a book by one of the authors covered in Literary Masters and offers a discussion of themes, characters, comparisons with social events of the era when the book was written and a critical analysis. The Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951 when J. D. Salinger had already achieved commercial success and critical acclaim as a short-story writer. The ultimate troubled teenage story is told by seventeen-year-old Holden Caulfield who has just flunked out of his third prep school. This novel spells out everything that has ever troubled a teenager about the adult world during any period in history---hypocrisy, insincerity, lack of compassion, lack of respect for everything, and the importance of material possessions over people.