Who wrote The Catcher in the Rye?
Quick answer
The Catcher in the Rye was written by American author J. D. Salinger and published in 1951. It’s narrated by Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old who wanders New York City for a few days after being expelled from his prep school.
Key facts
- Author
- J. D. Salinger (1919–2010)
- Published
- July 16, 1951
- Narrator
- Holden Caulfield
- Setting
- New York City, late 1940s
What the title means
Holden misremembers a line from a poem by Robert Burns and imagines himself in a field of rye, catching children before they run off a cliff. He wants to be the “catcher in the rye,” protecting kids’ innocence from the “phony” adult world.
The story
After leaving Pencey Prep, Holden spends a few days in Manhattan before going home. He visits bars, a hotel and the Central Park lagoon, wondering where the ducks go in winter. Above all, he cares about his younger sister Phoebe, and the book ends with him watching her ride a carousel.
Why it was challenged
The novel was banned or challenged in many schools for its profanity, sexual references and rebellious attitude. At the same time, generations of teenagers saw themselves in Holden, and it has sold more than 65 million copies.
J. D. Salinger
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jerome David Salinger |
| War service | Landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, 1944, carrying early chapters of the novel |
| Other books | Nine Stories (1953), Franny and Zooey (1961) |
| Later life | Withdrew from public life to Cornish, New Hampshire, and stopped publishing after 1965 |
| Died | January 27, 2010, aged 91 |
Salinger famously refused to allow a film adaptation, so the book has never been made into a movie.
Its influence
Holden became a symbol of teenage rebellion, influencing many later coming-of-age novels. For other American classics, see who wrote The Great Gatsby and the novel featuring Atticus Finch.
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