The Catcher in the Rye Guide and Other Works of JD Salinger

Although he only died in 2010, JD Salinger did not publish anything after 1965 and had already largely withdrawn from public life many years before. Despite his seclusion and obstinate refusal to publish anything, Salinger still wrote each day ("There is a marvelous peace in not publishing, I just write for myself and my own pleasure...") and there is speculation that he might have left behind as many as fifteen unpublished novels when he passed away. Because these unpublished works show no sign of ever appearing in print and he published so few stories and novels his published volumes feel more important and special. They are famous for their darkness, angst and alienation, critique of conformity, the establishment and ego, the authentic period New York atmosphere, the recurring theme of innocence, an increasing obsession with Zen Buddhist philosophy, and Salinger's blunt and inventive sense of humour and sarcastic turn of phrase.