Jerome David SalingerJerome David Salinger

AuthorAuthor

J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 and J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 and grew up in the fashionable grew up in the fashionable apartment district of Manhattan, New apartment district of Manhattan, New York.York.

He was the son of a prosperous He was the son of a prosperous Jewish importer of Kosher cheese and Jewish importer of Kosher cheese and his Scotch-Irish wife. his Scotch-Irish wife.

The family had a beautiful apartment The family had a beautiful apartment on Park Avenue.on Park Avenue.

After restless studies in prep After restless studies in prep schools, he was sent to Valley Forge schools, he was sent to Valley Forge Military Academy (1934-36), which Military Academy (1934-36), which he attended briefly. His friends from he attended briefly. His friends from this period remember his sarcastic this period remember his sarcastic wit.wit.

In 1937 when he was eighteen and In 1937 when he was eighteen and nineteen, Salinger spent five months nineteen, Salinger spent five months in Europe. From 1937 to 1938 he in Europe. From 1937 to 1938 he studied at Ursinus College and New studied at Ursinus College and New York University. York University.

In 1939 Salinger took a class in short In 1939 Salinger took a class in short story writing at Columbia University story writing at Columbia University under Whit Burnett, founder-editor of under Whit Burnett, founder-editor of the the Story MagazineStory Magazine. .

During World War II he was drafted During World War II he was drafted into the infantry and was involved in into the infantry and was involved in the invasion of Normandy. the invasion of Normandy.

Salinger's comrades considered him Salinger's comrades considered him very brave, a genuine hero. very brave, a genuine hero.

Early in his stay in Europe, he wrote Early in his stay in Europe, he wrote short stories and met Ernest short stories and met Ernest Hemingway.Hemingway.

Involved in one of the bloodiest Involved in one of the bloodiest episodes of the war in Hürtgenwald, episodes of the war in Hürtgenwald, a useless battle, where he witnessed a useless battle, where he witnessed the horrors of war. the horrors of war.

After serving in the Army Signal After serving in the Army Signal Corps and Counter-Intelligence Corps Corps and Counter-Intelligence Corps from 1942 to 1946, he devoted from 1942 to 1946, he devoted himself to writing. himself to writing.

In 1945 Salinger married a French woman In 1945 Salinger married a French woman named Sylvia - a doctor. They were later named Sylvia - a doctor. They were later divorced. divorced.

In 1955 Salinger married Claire Douglas, In 1955 Salinger married Claire Douglas, the daughter of the British art critic Robert the daughter of the British art critic Robert Langton Douglas. The marriage ended in Langton Douglas. The marriage ended in divorce in 1967.divorce in 1967.

Since the late 80s Salinger has been Since the late 80s Salinger has been married to Colleen O'Neill. married to Colleen O'Neill.

In 1967, Salinger retreated into his private In 1967, Salinger retreated into his private world and his practice of Zen Buddhism world and his practice of Zen Buddhism only increased.only increased.

Salinger's early short stories appeared in Salinger's early short stories appeared in such magazines assuch magazines as Story Story, where his first , where his first story was published in 1940, story was published in 1940, Saturday Saturday Evening PostEvening Post and and EsquireEsquire, and then in the , and then in the New YorkerNew Yorker, which published almost all of , which published almost all of his later texts. his later texts.

"A Perfect Day for Bananafish," which "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," which appeared in The New Yorker in 1949, appeared in The New Yorker in 1949, introduced readers to Seymour introduced readers to Seymour Glass, a character who subsequently Glass, a character who subsequently figured in figured in Franny and ZooeyFranny and Zooey (1961) (1961) and and Raise High the Roof Beam, Raise High the Roof Beam, CarpenterCarpenter and and Seymour: An Seymour: An IntroductionIntroduction (1963), Salinger's only (1963), Salinger's only other published books.other published books.

Best known for his coming of age Best known for his coming of age novel novel The Catcher in the Rye.The Catcher in the Rye.

Parts of the text of Parts of the text of Catcher in the Catcher in the Rye Rye come from Salinger’s own come from Salinger’s own experiences at prep schools.experiences at prep schools.

Of his 35 published short stories, Of his 35 published short stories, those which Salinger wishes to those which Salinger wishes to preserve are collected in preserve are collected in Nine StoriesNine Stories (1953).(1953).

Since 1967 Salinger has lived in near Since 1967 Salinger has lived in near seclusion in Cornish, NH.seclusion in Cornish, NH.

In 1992 he managed to avoid In 1992 he managed to avoid reporters after a fire gutted his reporters after a fire gutted his house.house.

SourcesSources

www.kirjasto.sci.fi/salinger.htmwww.kirjasto.sci.fi/salinger.htm