The Catcher in the Rye

Story

The story is narrated by angst-ridden 16-year old Holden Caulfield. Although unclear exactly where the narrator is, it becomes clear he is undergoing treatment in a mental institution.

He tells the story of the few days he spent wandering around New York having been expelled from school, angry and lonely and trying to find meaning in his life.

Why we chose it

From one of the most influential US writers of the 20th century, The Catcher in the Rye is a classic coming of age story, dealing with the uncertainty and difficulties of growing up and feelings of teenage alienation.

Where it came from

Post WWII, wars were still being fought for causes that seemed nonsensical to younger people. Salinger tried to put these anti-war feelings into words whilst at the same time commenting on the isolation that comes from wealth and position.

Where it went next

Although it was written for adults it is most often read by young people. The novel helped popularise the slang term ‘screw up’. Although it has been translated into 30 languages, it has never been made into a film (inability to secure film rights). Rebel in the Rye (2017), a biopic was filmed based on Kenneth Slawenski’s biography J.D. Salinger: A Life.

Associated stories

Rebel in the Rye Kenneth Slawenski’s biography.