J.D. Salinger

J.D in 1965.
Is this how you picture Holden?

"Salinger" released Spring 2013

Early Life:
Born January 1st, 1919
Grows up in NYC but sent to military academy in northern PA.

Time in WWII

• Spring 1942, he's drafted
• serves up through the end of the war
• works counter-intelligence
• interrogates French and German POW's

Visits concentration camp at Dachau after the war is over.

Hospitalized for six months after the war is over for what was then called, "Combat Stress Reaction" (PTSD).

Late 1940's
Begins to practice Zen Buddhism and gave reading lists to friends

Catcher in the Rye

• Published 1951
• received mixed reactions
• schools began to assign the book
• by the 1970's it was the second most banned book in public schools
• partially due to language, mostly due to Holden's "perverted" behavior

Early 1953: Publication of "Nine Stories"

Later life and hermit status

Late 1953: As his fame grew, moves from NYC to small town, Cornish, New Hampshire

Refuses all interviews, has few friends, does not allow himself to be photographed or written about. Dies 2010.

Only activity

• 1955: Marries Claire Douglas
• 1961: Publishes "Franny and Zooey"

Fun fact: numerous different studios offered to make a film version of Catcher, but Salinger rejected every offer, no matter how much was offered

Shootings

• Mark David Chapman, who shot and killed John Lennon on Dec. 8th, 1980, cited it as his favorite book
• He actually read a passage at his sentencing

John Hinkley Jr. who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan on March 30th, 1981, had the book in his hotel room after he was arrested

Robert John Bardo, who murdered 1980's model Rebecca Schaeffer, on July 18th, 1989, was holding the book when he shot her