The famous American writer Jerome David Salinger became one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. His most famous publication was the novel “Catcher in the Rye. In terms of volume, his contribution to literature cannot be called great, but few writers could be placed on the same footing as him.
Jerome David Salinger was born on January 1, 1919, in New York City. The boy’s father, Solomon Salinger, was a Lithuanian-born Jew who was a wholesaler of smoked meats and cheeses. Miriam’s mother, who before marriage was named Mary Gillick, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, converted to Judaism. In addition to Jerome, his older sister Doris was brought up in the family. The children were 8 years and 2 months apart.
Writer Jerome SalingerWriter Jerome Salinger
The father sought to raise his son as an educated man. In 1936 the young man graduated from a military school in Valley Forge. It was here that he made his debut in literature: Jerome wrote three stanzas for the school anthem, which is still performed to this day.
Creativity
The main characters in most of Salinger’s works are children under the age of 17. Nevertheless, he can hardly be called a “children’s” writer. In his works, the author raises the theme of confrontation between the teenager and the world around him. The characters of the works encapsulate an existence that does not find certain boundaries.
The debut story “Young People” was published in 1940 by Story magazine. As for the first serious fame, it came after the publication of “Good Fishing Banana Fish,” which describes the day of Simor Glass and his wife.
Eleven years after the publication of the first work, on July 16, 1951, the only novel “Above the Chasm in the Rye” was printed, on this story the author worked for 10 years.
Jerome Salinger’s “Above Brokeback Rye “Jerome Salinger’s “Above Brokeback Rye”
Literary critics of the time praised the novel, which has not lost its popularity to this day. However, the book was banned in some countries and states of the United States because of its depressing and profanity.
By the time the novel came out, 26 of Jerome’s works had been published in various editions, including 7 of the 9 short stories. In 1953 they formed a separate collection called Nine Stories. In the ’60s the work “Franny and Zoey” and “Raise the Rafters, Carpenters” were published.
Death
After the novel “Above the Chasm in the Rye” became popular, Salinger led a reclusive life. After 1965, the author stopped publishing–writing stories only for himself.
In New Hampshire, Jerome David Salinger died a natural death at his home on January 27, 2010. The writer’s literary agent reported that Salinger had injured his pelvic bone in 2009, but was doing well for a long time.
Jerome Salinger in his old ageJerome Salinger in his old age
The author was succeeded by his last wife Colleen and son Matthew. The author’s life was full of interesting facts, and some of his quotes have become legendary.
The documentary Beyond the Chasm in the Rye tells the story of Salinger’s personality and life.