American writer Jerome David Salinger: biography, creativity

There are writers whose life is no less interesting than their work. This includes Jerome Salinger, whose biography is full of events. This is a philosophical quest for ourselves, the study of a multitude of sciences, the Second World War, intelligence service, the return home and recognition for stories and the only published novel.

You can make a movie about him. Only now the writer has forbidden to do this, as well as to film his books. Why did this happen, you will learn from our article.

The most mysterious writer of the century

Jerome David Salinger is known not only for his works, but also for the closed way of life, which gave rise to many myths and conjectures around him. At the height of his fame, the author suddenly ceases to publish his books. At the same time, he does not stop writing, moreover, he almost completely limits his communication with the press and critics. To readers of favor is not more, autographs Salinger also give stops.

Legends about his voluntary asceticism. And in one of the interviews, American film actor Nicolas Cage described how one of the tests entrusted to him by a beloved girl whose favor he persistently sought was to get the autograph of this famous writer. The movie star claims that he managed to get the coveted signature. But many of Salinger's readers and fans did not smile happily.

Life Path

Jerome David Salinger was born on the first day of 1919 in New York (United States of America) to a Jewish family. His father was a merchant, and the family lived fairly well. My mother had Scottish and Irish roots. At a young age, the writer took the first steps in the letter. His stories were brief, but already quite capacious.

In 1936, Salinger (whose biography has many ambiguous moments) received a diploma of a closed military school. While studying, he wrote several lines for the hymn of this institution, which are still included in its official version. Further Salinger was waiting for her studies at New York University and practice in Europe.

Upon his return, he enters Columbia University, where he listens to lectures on prose and short stories. But study was interesting to David only here such separate courses. He did not graduate from any of the universities and could not make a career. This became a stumbling block with his father, who had high hopes for his son. In the end, after another family scandal, they turned away from each other forever.

The Second World War in the life of the writer

Salinger, whose biography is imbued with the influence of World War II, could not stay away from the events. He decided that his place at the front, and long struggled for the opportunity to get there, because for health reasons he was released from the draft.

In 1943, in the rank of sergeant writer enters the department of counterintelligence. Being in the hottest spots, Salinger, whose biography is more than once covered with memories of the war, will write in his diary, and later in letters to relatives, that he correctly understood his purpose and his place here. He was aware of the correctness and value of his stay in the very heat of the war, took part in the release of prisoners from concentration camps, was in intelligence, but the experience wounded him forever, closed him from others, which later resulted in his reclusive life.

Confession

Returning home, the writer Salinger finds the glory of an acknowledged novelist. His story "A good fish is a banana" on the lips of all critics and lovers of literature. In the mid-forties, his novels and stories are published by many magazines. The themes of his works are painful memories of the war, wounds that are not healed, about what he has seen, which will never be forgotten.

Recognition of the writer will reach its apogee after the publication in 1951 of the novel "The Catcher in the Rye." The genre of the work will be called "novel-education." This creation was bought out in an unprecedented quantity - more than 60 million copies.

At the height of his fame and recognition, Salinger suddenly ceases to publish his works and in 1965 closes the world. He no longer gives interviews and autographs. Why this behavior is justified, is still a mystery for biographers, and even for many of the familiar writers.

The great novelist died at the age of 91 in his private mansion in New Hampshire.

Creation. Short review

Creativity Salinger mainly consists of short stories and short stories. The only novel written and published by the author is "Above the Catcher in the Rye."

Salinger created stories on a fairly broad topic, which changed along with the writer's worldview. But the main idea is one - the meaning of life, broken dreams and philosophical search for oneself. The heroes of most short stories are children, teenagers and people in search of the goal of life. Such images give the writer the most vivid and capacious expression of his thoughts and show the reader the results of his philosophical reflections.

Worthy of attention is the story of the writer "The Man Who Laughed". There is a story about a student who taught the children, while telling them amazing stories about a noble robber - the Man who laughed. The guy John tells with inspiration, because he is helped by a very beautiful and kind girl Mary. It turns out that she is the daughter of noble and wealthy parents who are against her relationship with a simple student. When Mary still has to part with John, he tells the story in which his hero is defeated, and soon dies himself. The story condemns the social inequality that ruins the lives of the best people.

"The Catcher in the Rye"

This great novel almost immediately found many readers around the world. Nevertheless, critics have reacted ambiguously to the work, accusing the writer of depressive motives. For brighter, subtle characteristics of the characters and all that is happening in the novel, abusive language is used, which led to the prohibition of the publication of the work in some states. Now it is included in the school curricula in literature around the world.

Salinger, whose novels were closed for publication by himself, forbade the screening of his work, when this was discussed in the 80's and 90's. The main argument was that the events of the work take place in the soul of the main character, so it is almost impossible to show it as the author saw and created.

The novel tells of the boy Holden Caulfield. No one understands him, and he himself hardly accepts his surroundings. He grows up, and in this growing monstrous fast fall to the dust of his dreams and ideals. The novel wears such a strange name because there is a dream in Kolfild's minds - to catch children over the abyss when they, after playing, are in danger. This is a fairly symbolic association. Most likely, Holden wants to help save their children their childhood in their cheerfulness and openness to a world where dreams are not broken forever. The original title of the novel The Catcher in the Rye is translated as "Catcher in the Rye."

Quotes and aphorisms

The mysterious writer left us not only the greatest literary heritage, but also many aphorisms. This is because he was a real master of the pen Salinger. We quote the most striking and recognizable quotes:

• "Because a person has died, you can not stop loving, damn it! Especially if he was better than all the living, you know?" - the writer of his heroine of the story "Lyapa-Stropa" will utter a truth full of pain and truth.
• "And I am fascinated by such books that, as you will read them to the end, you will immediately think: it would be good if this writer became your best friend and that you could talk to him." This will tell Holden Caulfield, and it's hard not to agree with him.

• "It is necessary to let a man speak out, since he began to tell interesting stories and was carried away." I like very much when a person tells with enthusiasm. "This is good." These words also belong to Colfeld.
• "An immature man wants to die for his work, and a mature man - to live for the sake of a just cause."

Finally

To read or not to read is everyone's business. But, staying away from the classics of world literature, you deprive yourself of the pleasure of knowing completely new worlds. So, Salinger's stories are perfectly integral microcosms of his heroes. Searches and disappointments, life and real catastrophes in their souls will not leave you indifferent, enrich the inner world and help you to better know yourself.