As many of you undoubtedly have heard, famous Catcher In The Rye author, J.D. Salinger died last Thursday at the age of 91. This presents very conflicted emotions for me, because I was both elated and also saddened when I heard the news. On one hand, the author has written one of the seminal books of the 20th century portraying teenage angst and confusion in a way I’ve never seen equaled. In fact, Catcher In The Rye’s beauty somehow only magnifies the older you become (the book has the distinct honor of being one of two books I’ve read multiple times and will continue to do so).
On the other hand, the author has not published since 1965. Actually, Catcher In The Rye is the only true book he released. His entire anthologized published output amounts to 4 short novellas spread out across 2 books and a collection of 9 short stories. Countless other short stories were published in the leading magazines of the 1940′s and 50′s but never collected.
Salinger’s death has been something I’ve been eagerly awaiting and excited about for years. Starting in the 1960′s he became America’s most fascinating recluse, moving to the remote town of Cornish, New Hampshire. Periodically emerging from the house for groceries and to scare off teenagers pilgrimaging to see him. The legend goes that he continued to write daily without publishing, simply because he loved the act of doing so. He was sick of dealing with critics, publishers and the general public. His daughter wrote a memoir a few years back saying that he had stacks of manuscripts ear marked for when he died to, “publish as is”, “edit before publishing” etc. I’m positive his estate will go through with this and take advantage of a tremendous cash cow.
This whole situation is fascinating to me. It’s like if the Beatles had stopped making records in 1966 with Revolver and had stopped touring, but continued to record albums and just chose not to release them. Then when John Lennon died they released Sgt. Peppers and the White Album and the rest of the catalog.
This all presents very exciting possibilities. I mourn your death J.D. Salinger, but I look forward to appreciating your work both old and new for years to come.
“I think, even, if I ever die, and they stick me in a cemetery, and I have a tombstone and all, it’ll say ‘Holden Caulfield’ on it, and then what year I was born and what year I died, and then right under that it’ll say ‘Fuck you.’ I’m positive, in fact”
-Catcher In The Rye (1951)
Dear Mr. Flintheart,
Very nce piece you have written here. Like any artist who dies, may it be a writer or a bad ass rock and or roller, the Sales of his or her product will go through the roof. The family will put out every little thing they have that was done by said artist. In this case that is awesome because thats what he wants , Well that is how i interpert it from what you have written. and i hope they do write that on his head stone. I need to read The Catcher in the Rye. Maybe step away from the beat generation and gonzo writing for a bit and see what else is out there. On another note. I think the “blog” or site or whatever you want to call this that i am posting on should change names to the Flintheart memos. Because you write the most stuff on here and with high quality. I know this may piss off the other gentelmen on here but “I mean comon” This is in no way a shot at any body else but a kudos for you.
Ba Ba bouey ba ba bouey ba ba bouey
You obviously weren’t a fan before Flintheart showed up….I shall call you the Bandwagoner. But a nice comment nonetheless.
Yar, I am a big fan of yours and yes i am a recruit of Flintheart. But i really do enjoy you as well good sir. I was just saying it seems like he posts ALOT of stuff on here. not a shot at you kind sir. Did not intend to upset you. but we all know anything i say on here will piss off Polish so. I await his comment… But again Yar I Love the memos…. It is one of those things i look forward to seeing in my very dull life. Thank you for what you do
Gracias Senor…keep on chooglin.
I’ve dreamt twice this week about a sequel/prequel/any sort of related piece to The Catcher in the Rye being released.
Call me ignorant for only wanting Salinger that relates to Holden Caulfield…and I’ll call you a fag.
There are actually a handful of short stories that detail portions of Holden’s life pre the events in The Catcher In The Rye that were published in various magazines before the book ever came out. One that is even the story of the death of Holden’s brother Allie. Other’s were certain chapters/portions of Catcher that were individual short stories that were re worked when Salinger wrote the novel. Interesting stuff, hopefully we will see some of that published.
You do comment on our posts. Not a lot to be pissed off with there.
[...] being an international celebrity he retreated from the lime light, becoming a recluse of almost J.D. Salinger proportions. This eventually brought him into grips with severe heroin addiction. Meanwhile, the [...]