J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye: A Cultural History

by Josef Benson

A fascinating examination of J.D. Salinger and his landmark novel, The Catcher in the Rye Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye has been a cultural phenomenon, not only as an assigned text for English courses, but as a touchstone for generations of alienated youth. But who was J.D. Salinger, and how did he come to write a novel whose impact continues to resonate with millions of readers? In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the A Cultural History, Josef Benson examines the legacy of an elusive author and his work. After exploring how the novel reflected Salinger’s tortured psyche, Benson discusses how the book made an impact on generations of readers—from 1960s counter-culture youth and followers of the Black Power movement of the 1970s to the disenfranchised teens of the Reagan era and the celebrity-fixated masses of the present day. In addition, Benson unravels the mystery behind Salinger’s reclusiveness, the effects the novel had on the reading public who adored it, and why three American assassins cited the novel as an inspiration. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye also considers why this work of fiction has been among the most widely taught—and most frequently banned—books of all time. By looking at the novel as both an artifact of the 1950s as well as a living testament to the turmoil of teenage angst, this book provides a riveting discussion of one of the most enigmatic novels and authors of all time.

Genres: Literature, Nonfiction

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2018

Reviews

[Carol Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book are so bad that they're like a SOUTH PARK parody -- some young white douche pretending that Holden Caulfield is attacking "whiteness" every time he whines about being picked on at school or seeing popular guys get all the girls. On the other hand, some of the historical background about author J.D. Salinger's tortured past and twisted sexual desires made for compelling reading. I just with there was more literary analysis and more comparisons to other works of classic literature instead of the endless pandering to modern political correctness and the callow, self-serving, hypocritical attempts to appropriate the actual suffering of actual minorities.

[Kimberly Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 stars. I enjoyed Benson's analysis of Holden being a reflection of Salinger. I wish there would've been more to say about Holden's misogynistic tendencies. But I really liked the comparison in each decade to a different person/group who had the opportunity to act on various injustices and chose not to. Definitely recommended for anyone who wants to take a closer look at The Catcher in the Rye.

[Donne Su :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Racist Nonsense

I really would like to enjoy the book, but it has so many hateful nuances that stand out. He gives an obvious bias against certain racial, sexual, and religious groups. Not only that, but he begins to bash these groups and tries to provide some kind of evidence through fatuous “insights” of Salinger’s masterpiece.

Also, the book cover is extremely misleading. I bought this book thinking it was the original Catcher in the Rye, but was thoroughly disappointed when i found out what it really was.

I usually don’t express hate toward people’s hard work, but this book was extremely infuriating.

[Kimberly Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 read. I enjoyed the analysis of Salinger and how clearly his life connected with Holden's. I also liked the way Benson compared Salinger to a person/group in each decade following its publication. I do wish there would've been a deeper dive into Holden's internalized misogyny and also his obsessions/personality "quirks" displayed throughout the text. But I did agree with a lot of the explanations present and would recommend to people who want to take a look at Catcher through a different lens.

[Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than when I read it as a teenager!

[Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at Catcher in the Rye and how it has remained relevant.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars