J.D. Salinger's Birthday

Jerome David Salinger was born January 1, 1919 an American author best known for "The Catcher In The Rye", a classic coming-of-age novel that has enjoyed enduring popularity since its publication in 1951. A major theme in Salinger's work is the agile and powerful mind of disturbed young men, and the redemptive capacity of children in the lives of such men. Salinger is also known for his reclusive nature because he has not given an interview, made a public appearance or published any new work in the last forty years. In 1942 Salinger had received his first acceptance from the magazine New Yorker. It was for a story entitled "Slight Rebellion off Madison", which featured a semi-autobiographical character named Holden Caulfield. The story, however, was held from publication until 1946 because of the war. The story was related to several others featuring the Caulfield family, but perspective shifted from older brother Vince to Holden.Salinger had confided to several people that he felt Holden deserved a novel, and "The Catcher in the Rye" was published in 1951. It was an immediate success, although early critical reactions were mixed. Although never confirmed by Salinger himself, several of the events in the novel are semi-autobiographical. A novel driven by the nuanced, intricate character of Holden, the plot is quite simple. The book became famous for Salinger's extensive and exceptional eye for subtle complexity, detail, and description, for its ironic humor, and for the depressing and desperate atmosphere of New York City. The novel was banned in some countries because of its bold and offensive use of language; "goddam" appears at least every other page. The book is still widely read, particularly in the United States, where it is considered an especially authoritative depiction of teenage angst. It is not unusual to see Catcher in the Rye on a required reading list for American high school students.