Thursday, January 28, 2010

J.D. Salinger, 1919-2010

J.D. Salinger died Wednesday, January 27th at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire. He was 91 years old.

Though Salinger published only four books, he is often considered one of the most influential writers of his generation. His most famous work, the novel "The Catcher in the Rye," was published in 1951, and became an immediate best seller. His protagonist, angst-ridden adolescent Holden Caulfield, struck a chord with the post World War II generation, and the novel's themes of alienationa and disenchantment continue to resonate to this day; the book still sells over 250,000 copies a year.

"The Catcher in the Rye" was his only novel, though he published 3 collections of shorter works, including the critically acclaimed short story collection "Nine Stories."

In his later years, he became known as America's most famous recluse, withdrawing to a farm in rural New Hampshire, and limiting his contact with the outside world. He refused to give interviews, and did not publish any writing after 1965.

New York Times Obituary

Check out books by J.D. Salinger.

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