Among the great writers of the tumultuous decade of 1950s
America, J. D. Salinger acquires a peculiar stance. His popularity rests
precisely on two bases: that he was the writer of one literary bible of the
young generations to come, The Catcher in the Rye, and that he was,
ironically enough, resentful toward the publicity brought by this novel
and few, but brilliant, short stories. This essay will focus on the mystery
of Salinger?s silence and self-imposed exile by exploring his life and
ideas and the various social and critical responses to his celebrated
novel.