Salinger

Now a major motion picture, a biography that “succeed[s] in . . . finding in the author's life seeds of inspiration for his fiction” (Boston Globe).

J.D. Salinger was one of the twentieth century's greatest writers. He was also one of its most elusive. After making his mark on the American literary scene, Salinger retreated to a small town in New Hampshire where he hoped to hide his life away from the world.

In researching Salinger: A Biography, journalist and biographer Paul Alexander conducted over forty interviews with major literary figures including George Plimpton, Gay Talese, Ian Hamilton, Harold Bloom, Roger Angell, A. Scott Berg, Robert Giroux, Ved Mehta, Gordon Lish, and Tom Wolfe. Alexander's research also took him to newly available archives at Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia universities, NYU, and the New York Public Library.

“An eerie portrait of an increasingly eccentric writer.” -Library Journal

“Alexander documents, among other things, Salinger's nervous breakdown after World War II; his hatred of New York publishers; his hatred of Hollywood; and his ugly divorce from Clair Douglas.” -Liz Smith

“For hardcore fans, this biography is a must.” -Toronto Sun

“It is safe to say that Alexander will not be making any friends among the faithful by bringing us even closer to a man who wants to be known only as the creator of Holden Caulfield.” -New York Magazine

“A major publishing event . . . Strongly recommended.” -Choice