JD Salinger dies aged 91

The Catcher in the Rye author died of natural causes it was announced by his son yesterday. Famed for his dislike of celebrity, Mr Salinger had lived as a recluse for decades giving a rare and last interview in 1980.

Catcher in the Rye sold more than 60 million copies in several languages and public reaction to it was varied. It shocked the 1950’s generation with strong language and rebellious protagonist Holden Caulfield and was met with alarm in many communities. However, it was given critical acclaim and, over the years, became required reading in many schools; the portrayal of teenage alienation and adult hypocrisy made it relevant and contemporary reading for young adults.

Salinger continued to write and publish until 1965 before retiring from the public eye. Famed for his complicated private life, the writer hadn’t had anything published for 45 years before his death, citing that he wrote only for himself. Popular speculation suggests that there are 15 unpublished manuscripts locked away that he had penned over the decades. There has been no comment as to whether these will be published. The author, over the years, had persistently refused to sell the film rights for Catcher in the Rye.

In 2009 Mr Salinger launched court proceedings against Swedish author Frederik Colting for infringing his copyright; Colting’s novel 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye was banned from publication in the US. The case will be heard in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

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