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Product Description
Product Description
A definitive biography on one of the most famous and bestselling authors of our time.
Salinger's Catcher in the Rye has sold more than 65 million
copies and, today, still sells 250,000 a year. Famously
reclusive (his last interview was nearly 30 years ago), little, until now, has been known of Salinger. Slawensky, finally, provides a detailed but highly readable account of
Salinger's life.
Salinger's Catcher in the Rye has sold more than 65 million
copies and, today, still sells 250,000 a year. Famously
reclusive (his last interview was nearly 30 years ago), little, until now, has been known of Salinger. Slawensky, finally, provides a detailed but highly readable account of
Salinger's life.
About the Author
Slawenski is a world-renowned expert on Salinger, having, for many years, run the website,Dead Caulfields.
Based in the US, he has been able to do first-hand research, conducting many interviews and
gaining access to library-held records and files.
Based in the US, he has been able to do first-hand research, conducting many interviews and
gaining access to library-held records and files.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
When i saw this biography i nearly wet my pants and purchased immediately.I think like one of the above reviewer states how do you write about someone who just wanted privacy.This is the closet we probably can get.It offers a glimpse into the early years of Salinger which is interesting but the book becomes very repetitive.And i found the long winded synopsis of his stories insulting,like fans of Salinger do not know what happened or have not read them!Seriously he tells us what Catcher In The Rye is about...shocking.It beggars belief BUT fills a lot of pages.We have all in our time read masterful biographies that really capture a subject,such as Howard Sournes bio on Charles Bukowski,Harry Thompsons Peter Cook,Brian Masters Killing For Company,Bob Woodwards Wired to name a few i admired.This is not one of those but to be fair it is not the authors fault.JD Salinger was never going to be an accesible subject and his world was a very closed one.A rare figure a world away from the cheap celebrity pap of today.If your a fan you will get this book anyhow but i think,as cliched as it sounds,you can learn a lot more from Salingers own work.Not to sound trite but a lot of him is in the work.Golly...Catcher In The Rye WHAT A BOOK.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me." -- Numbers 11:14 (NKJV)
This biography will be of most value to those who have read little of Salinger's work and know even less about his life. Why? J.D. Salinger undertook to reduce his public profile in much the same way that a triple agent working for both sides in a war would try to keep the full scope of his or her duplicity secret.
As a result, Mr. Slawenski didn't have much to work with. Salinger's writing is appropriately the most eloquent expressions of his life and work. Comments by critics and fans are magnified from such a perspective. What remains of correspondence with editors and publishers is also made larger than life. Occasional run-ins with journalists also shine more than their significance.
But J.D. Salinger wasn't always J.D. Salinger. He was a more ordinary person growing up, and this biography provides helpful perspectives on the possible effects of some of his formative influences. I was particularly struck by the careful descriptions of the difficult battle and postwar conditions that Salinger must have experienced in Europe that left him feeling the need to convey what cannot be understood except by experience in his stories.
As a biographer, Mr. Slawenski brings some heavy baggage with him. First, he's so much a fan that many times the writing fails to capture the flaws in Salinger's character and attitudes. Second, for my taste he brings more literary analysis to Salinger's work than his personal skills warrant. Third, many of the descriptions of Salinger's spiritual perspectives are superficial to the extreme, failing to even comment on obvious points (such as how Salinger reconciled his Jewish heritage, his attraction to Zen practices, and frequent written references to Jesus Christ). Fourth, much of the writing is repetitious, a failing that's more obvious for someone who is writing about someone who expressed himself sparely.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. Although I have read all of Salinger's published work, I haven't done so in a long time. It was a pleasure to be immersed in the stories and novels again.
In fact, I was inspired to check out all the stories and books I could find in the library and start rereading them. In some cases, I haven't read the material in over 50 years so it was quite interesting to see how my reactions had changed. I encourage you to do the same, unless you have read Salinger in the last five years.
Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Slawenski.
This biography will be of most value to those who have read little of Salinger's work and know even less about his life. Why? J.D. Salinger undertook to reduce his public profile in much the same way that a triple agent working for both sides in a war would try to keep the full scope of his or her duplicity secret.
As a result, Mr. Slawenski didn't have much to work with. Salinger's writing is appropriately the most eloquent expressions of his life and work. Comments by critics and fans are magnified from such a perspective. What remains of correspondence with editors and publishers is also made larger than life. Occasional run-ins with journalists also shine more than their significance.
But J.D. Salinger wasn't always J.D. Salinger. He was a more ordinary person growing up, and this biography provides helpful perspectives on the possible effects of some of his formative influences. I was particularly struck by the careful descriptions of the difficult battle and postwar conditions that Salinger must have experienced in Europe that left him feeling the need to convey what cannot be understood except by experience in his stories.
As a biographer, Mr. Slawenski brings some heavy baggage with him. First, he's so much a fan that many times the writing fails to capture the flaws in Salinger's character and attitudes. Second, for my taste he brings more literary analysis to Salinger's work than his personal skills warrant. Third, many of the descriptions of Salinger's spiritual perspectives are superficial to the extreme, failing to even comment on obvious points (such as how Salinger reconciled his Jewish heritage, his attraction to Zen practices, and frequent written references to Jesus Christ). Fourth, much of the writing is repetitious, a failing that's more obvious for someone who is writing about someone who expressed himself sparely.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. Although I have read all of Salinger's published work, I haven't done so in a long time. It was a pleasure to be immersed in the stories and novels again.
In fact, I was inspired to check out all the stories and books I could find in the library and start rereading them. In some cases, I haven't read the material in over 50 years so it was quite interesting to see how my reactions had changed. I encourage you to do the same, unless you have read Salinger in the last five years.
Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Slawenski.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been reading Salinger for 30 years, plus a considerable amount of criticism and biographical information, yet this new biography has revolutionized and positively re-shaped my understanding of the subject.
Slawenski's careful reconstruction of Salinger's probable wartime experiences was, for me, something of a key to the man. In sum, as a soldier in the Allies invasion of Europe from 1944 Salinger directly experienced as tough and prolonged a front-line military campaign as almost WW II survivor. This stands as an unstated background to all his great stories, and his subsequent life.
As well as the intrinsic interest of its information, its pleasing style, and the soundness of its criticism; this biography enhanced my (already high) appreciation of Salinger.
I regard it as a triumph.
Slawenski's careful reconstruction of Salinger's probable wartime experiences was, for me, something of a key to the man. In sum, as a soldier in the Allies invasion of Europe from 1944 Salinger directly experienced as tough and prolonged a front-line military campaign as almost WW II survivor. This stands as an unstated background to all his great stories, and his subsequent life.
As well as the intrinsic interest of its information, its pleasing style, and the soundness of its criticism; this biography enhanced my (already high) appreciation of Salinger.
I regard it as a triumph.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A book worth Holden onto
Almost paradoxically, Slawenski strips the mysticism surrounding the aloof author, giving the definitive JD tour. Salinger has become a legend. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lloyd W. Whittle
A very good biography
Kenneth Slawenski wrote one of the three best biographies I read in the last ten years (the other two are: "King of the World" by David Remnick and "The Court of the Last Tsar", by... Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Roberto Rockmann
Salinger unmasked at last
I was wary of a book appearing so soon after Salinger's death fearing that it may have been rushed out and badly compiled. I needn't have worried. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2010 by Caroline Green
Fascinating read
You can see what an incredible amount of research has gone into this book, yet Slawenski's stylish writing manages to make it an extremely entertaining read too. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by Miles
Brilliant!
This is an excellently written biography & a joy to read. Informative, enlightening & impeccably researched this book was well worth waiting for, it is not to be missed as it is an... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by Macy Lane
A fantastic read
An excellent book that kept me interested throughout. I knew only a little about JD Salinger before reading this biography but it was recommended to me and I am glad that it was. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Sammy A
Recommended reading
I read 'Catcher' years ago but knew very little about Salinger - like a lot of people I suppose. This is a superb book, immaculately researched but written with real pace and... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Mr. R. J. Whitehead
Magnificent
As someone who had read 'Catcher' but knew nothing about Salinger, I found this biography engrossing. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by T Waring
Fantastic!!
I've been waiting for this biography to be published for so long now and I finally own a copy.
This is a truly excellent read, highly informative and a must for anyone. Read more
This is a truly excellent read, highly informative and a must for anyone. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Spring Heeled Jim
A fantastic book
Peter Carey, writing in The Times, dubbed this, 'A well-written, energetic and magnificently researched book - a true picture of Salinger emerges. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Christian Renuchi
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