There are writers whose life is no less interesting than their work. These include the biography of which is full of events. This is a philosophical search for oneself, the study of many sciences, the Second World War, service in intelligence, returning home and recognition for stories and the only published novel.

You can make a movie about him. Only now the writer forbade doing this, as well as filming his books. Why this happened, you will learn from our article.

The most mysterious writer of the century

Jerome David Salinger is known not only for his works, but also for his withdrawn lifestyle, which has given rise to many myths and guesses around him. At the height of his fame, the author suddenly stops publishing his books. At the same time, he does not stop writing, besides, he almost completely limits communication with the press and critics. There is no more favor for the readers; Salinger also stops giving autographs.

There were legends about his voluntary hermitage. And in one of the interviews, the American actor told how one of the tests put on him by his beloved girl, whose favor he stubbornly sought, was to get the autograph of this Movie star claims that he managed to get the coveted signature. But for many of Salinger's readers and fans, luck never smiled.

Life path

Jerome David Salinger was born on the first day of 1919 in New York (United States of America) to a Jewish family. His father was a merchant, and the family lived fairly well off. The mother was of Scottish and Irish roots. At a young age, the writer took his first steps in writing. His stories were short, but quite succinct even then.

In 1936, Salinger (whose biography has many controversial points) received a diploma from a closed military school. During his studies, he wrote several lines for the anthem of this institution, which are still included in his official version. Further, Salinger was expected to study at New York University and practice in Europe.

On his return he enters where he listens to lectures on prose and short stories. But studying was interesting to David only in such separate courses. He did not graduate from any of the universities and was unable to make a career. This became a stumbling block with his father, who had high hopes for his son. As a result, after another family scandal, they turned their backs on each other forever.

World War II in the life of a writer

Salinger, whose biography is imbued with the influence of World War II, could not stay away from the events taking place. He decided that his place was at the front, and fought for a long time for the opportunity to get there, since for health reasons he was exempted from the draft.

In 1943, with the rank of sergeant, the writer got into the counterintelligence department. Being in the hottest spots, Salinger, whose biography will more than once be strewn with memories of the war, will write in his diary, and later in letters to his loved ones, that he correctly understood his purpose, and his place is here. He was aware of the correctness and value of his stay in the very heat of the war, took part in the release of prisoners from concentration camps, was in intelligence, but the experience wounded him forever, closed him off from others, which resulted later in his reclusive life.

Confession

Returning home, the writer Salinger acquires the fame of an acclaimed short story writer. His story "The Banana Fish Catch Well" is on the lips of all critics and literature lovers. In the mid-forties, his short stories and short stories were published in many magazines. The themes of his works are painful memories of the war, of wounds that cannot be healed, of what he sees that will never be forgotten.

The recognition of the writer will reach its climax after the publication in 1951 of the novel "The Catcher in the Rye". The genre of the work will be called "novel-education". This creation was sold out in an unprecedented amount - more than 60 million copies.

At the height of his fame and recognition, Salinger suddenly stopped publishing his works and in 1965 closed himself off from the world. He no longer gives interviews and autographs. What is the reason for this behavior is still a mystery for biographers, and even for many of the writer's acquaintances.

The great novelist died at the age of 91 in his closed mansion in New Hampshire.

Creation. Short review

Salinger's work mainly consists of short stories and short stories. The only novel written and published by the author is Catcher in the Rye.

Salinger created stories on a fairly broad topic, which changed along with the writer's worldview. But the main idea is the same - the meaning of life, broken dreams and a philosophical search for oneself. The heroes of most short stories are children, adolescents and people in search of a purpose in life. Such images give the writer the most vivid and capacious disclosure of his thoughts and show the reader the results of his philosophical reflections.

Noteworthy is the story of the writer. It is a story about a student who taught children, while telling them amazing stories about a noble robber - the Man who laughed. Boyfriend John tells with inspiration, because he is helped by a very beautiful and kind girl Mary. It turns out that she is the daughter of noble and wealthy parents who are against her relationship with a simple student. When Mary is forced to part with John, he tells a story in which his hero is defeated and soon dies himself. The story condemns the social inequality that ruins the lives of the best people.

"Over Abyss in the Rye"

This greatest novel almost immediately found many readers around the world. Nevertheless, critics were ambivalent about the work, accusing the writer of depressive motives. For brighter, more subtle characteristics of the characters and everything that happens in the novel, abusive vocabulary is used, which led to the ban on the release of the work in some states. It is now included in school literature programs around the world.

Salinger, whose novels were closed for publication by himself, forbade filming his work when it was discussed in the 80-90s. The main argument was that the events of the work take place in the soul of the protagonist, therefore, it is almost impossible to show it as the author saw and created.

The novel tells about the boy Holden Caulfield. Nobody understands him, and he himself hardly accepts his surroundings. He grows up, and in this growing up his dreams and ideals crumble monstrously quickly to dust. The novel bears such a strange name because in Caulfield's thoughts there is a dream - to catch children over an abyss when they, having played, are in danger. This is a rather symbolic association. Most likely, Holden dreams of helping children preserve their childhood in their cheerfulness and openness to the world, where dreams have not yet been broken forever. The original title of the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, translates to "The Catcher in the Rye".

Quotes and aphorisms

The mysterious writer left us not only the greatest literary legacy, but also many aphorisms. This is because Salinger was a true master of the pen. We will quote the most vivid and recognizable quotes:

• "Because a person died, you can't stop loving him, especially if he was better than all the living, do you understand?" - in the voice of his hero of the novel "Catcher in the Rye" the writer will utter the truth, full of pain and truth.
• "And I am fascinated by such books that as you read them to the end, you immediately think: it would be nice if this writer became your best friend, and so that you can talk to him." Holden Caulfield will say that, and it's hard to disagree with him.

• "We need to let the person speak out, since he began to tell interesting stories and got carried away. I really like it when a person talks with enthusiasm. It's good." These words also belong to Caulfield.
• "An immature person wants to die for his cause, and a mature person wants to live for a just cause."

Finally

Reading or not reading is everyone's business. But by staying away from the classics of world literature, you deprive yourself of the pleasure of knowing completely new worlds. So, Salinger's stories are completely integral microcosms of his heroes. Searches and disappointments, everyday life and real catastrophes in their souls will not leave you indifferent, enrich the inner world and help you better know yourself.

Literature USA

David Salinger Jerome

Biography

Jerome David Salinger (born Jerome David Salinger; born 1919) is an American writer, classic of the 20th century USA literature, best known as the author of The Catcher in the Rye novel.

Salinger was born on January 1, 1919 in New York to a Jewish and Irish family. His father, a wealthy merchant Solomon Salinger, strove to give his son a good education. As a young man, Jerome attended the Valley Forge Military Academy. He was educated in New York schools, a military academy and three colleges. However, nowhere did he show any particular success or career aspirations, which caused the displeasure of his father, with whom he eventually fell out forever. His writing career began with the publication of short stories in New York magazines. During the Second World War, the writer took part in the hostilities of American troops in Europe from the very beginning of the landing in Normandy. He took part in the liberation of several concentration camps.

His first story, The Young Folks, was published in Story magazine in 1940. Salinger's first serious publicity came from the short story A Perfect Day for Bananafish (1948) - the story of a day in the life of a young man, Seymour Glass, and his wife.

Eleven years after the first publication, Salinger released his only novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951), which met with unanimous critical acclaim and remains especially popular among high school students and students who find in the views and behavior of the hero, Holden Caulfield , a close echo of their own moods. The book was banned in several countries and in some places in the United States for depression and the use of abusive vocabulary, but now in many American schools it is included in the lists of recommended reading.

In 1953, the collection Nine Stories was published. In the 60s, the novels "Franny and Zooey" and the novel "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters" were published.

After Catcher in the Rye exploded in popularity, Salinger began to lead a reclusive life, refusing to be interviewed. After 1965 he stopped publishing, writing only for himself. Moreover, he imposed a ban on the republishing of his early works (before "Good banana fish is caught") and stopped several attempts to publish his letters. In recent years, he practically does not interact with the outside world, living behind a high fence in a mansion in the town of Cornish, New Hampshire, and engaging in a variety of spiritual practices, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga, macrobiotics, Dianetics, as well as non-traditional medicine.

In the USSR and Russia, his works were translated and published, and gained popularity, primarily among the intelligentsia. The most successful and well-known are the translations of Rita Rait-Kovaleva.

Jerome David Salinger was born into a Jewish family on 01/01/1919 in New York. He graduated from the Valley Forge Military Academy. He also studied at several New York schools, a military school and 3 colleges. But nowhere did he reveal much success.

He began his literary career with short stories in American magazines. His debut, Young People, was published in 1940 in Story magazine. He took part in hostilities in Europe during World War II, was one of the liberators of several concentration camps.

In 1948, a short story, "A Banana Fish Catching Well," was published, which for the first time brought Salinger serious fame. In 1951, the only novel by the writer, The Catcher in the Rye, was published. It is approved by critics and read by high school students and students. Due to the use of abusive language and depression, this book was banned in some countries and even in certain districts of the United States, but now it is an integral part of the literature.

In 1953, the collection "Nine Stories" was published, further the short stories "Franny and Zooey" and the story "Above the Rafters, Carpenters" were published.

After 1965 Salenger stopped publishing altogether, continuing to compose only for himself. In addition, he forbade the republishing of his early works and the publication of a collection of letters. At the end of his life, the writer practically refuses to communicate with people, lives alone in his estate (Cornish, New Hampshire), is engaged in various spiritual practices, including yoga, Buddhism, Hinduism, and alternative medicine.

Square

Jerome David Salinger is a renowned American novelist and short story writer, born in 1919 into a wealthy Jewish family. After graduation, he was sent to the Forge Military Academy in 1934-1936. Later, Salinger studied at New York University and Columbia University, it was then that the writer first published several short stories.

JD Salinger for The Catcher in the Rye

Since then, Salinger has been published in many well-known magazines, including the famous New York edition. But the most popular novel was The Catcher in the Rye (1951), although critics also highly appreciated his prose miniatures. When the book became a bestseller, Salinger began to lead a reclusive lifestyle in the woods, in this hut the writer spent most of his life. He died on January 27, 2010 at the age of 91. Salinger never published his works again, but continued to write. Some interesting facts from the life of Salinger, which will inspire you to familiarize yourself with the small prose of the writer and re-read the sensational bestseller.

Sausage tycoon

Salinger's father dreamed that his son would continue the family business - the production and sale of sausages. Jerome nevertheless really went to study the secrets of meat production in 1937, but he quickly realized that his purpose was to create art, and not various types of sausages.

Friendship with Hemingway

It may seem to many that Salinger and Hemingway are completely different people in terms of worldview, according to the writers they managed to make friends during their military service. The writers carried their warm friendship throughout their lives.

Salinger fought in World War II

In 1942, the writer went to the front, took part in the Norman operation as part of the famous infantry regiment. Jerome was one of the first to participate in the liberation of the concentration camp. During the war, much of The Catcher in the Rye was written. As a result, the war negatively affected the nervous state of the writer, Salinger in 1945 ended up in a hospital for the nervous. After the war, the writer continued his state activities and worked as an employee of the American counterintelligence.

The writer's daughter in her memoirs talks about Jerome's insane hatred of the Nazis. But by an amazing coincidence, Salinger falls in love with the Nazi Sylvia, who was arrested by him, the marriage lasted no more than a year.

Falling in love with underage girls

Researchers of Salinger's biography draw attention to the writer's enthusiasm for young girls aged 14-16. Salinger began dating Jean Miller when she was 14 years old. They did not have sex until the girl was 20, only after this long-awaited night, Salinger broke up with Jean the very next day. The writer's ex-wife is convinced that after the birth of his daughter Margaret, Jerome lost his sexual interest in her, Claire became too old for him.

American hermit

Researchers argue that Salinger was not particularly reclusive. Yes, the writer bought himself a house in the distance near the forest, fenced it off with a high fence, put up signs "No unauthorized entry". But Salinger was regularly seen at the bar sipping a cocktail with pretty girls (different each time). Maybe the fact is that Salinger did not like the excessive attention of the press to his person, that he decided to proclaim himself a hermit (as the French say, “let the duck go”). The last publication during the life of the writer was in 1965, the last interview - in 1980.

Salinger's daughter, in her memoirs, tells of an unpleasant life in her father's hut. Jerome decided to become a hermit at the age of 40, but his wife and two children suffered from this. There was no heating in the house, no conditions for a normal life. As a result, he divorced his wife Claire Jerome at 66, and he continued to live in his beloved hut.

Passion for theology and mysticism

Salinger was deeply interested in philosophy, interested in Zen Buddhism, Scientology, Christian teachings. At times Jerome would have hungry weeks - either eating only vegetables or eating exclusively protein. Daughter Margaret says that her father was convinced that urine can cure any ailments, so he drank his urine in the form of a healing potion.

“Silence is a wonderful world for a writer, not glory. When you publish your works, the world thinks that you owe something. If you hide your creations from the public, you keep them for yourself. "

Dying indication

Another interesting fact about Salinger - the writer published his real phone number in the story "The Lost Letter" - "if anything, this is my phone number - 603-675-5244".