A Reader's Guide to J. D. Salinger

Few contemporary writers are as enigmatic as J. D. Salinger. Best known for The Catcher in the Rye which continues to be read and discussed by secondary school students undergraduates and scholars Salinger also wrote numerous shorter works. This reference covers his entire oeuvre. Since Salinger''s life figures prominently in his works an introductory essay considers autobiographical elements in his writings and foregrounds the chapters that follow. Subsequent chapters examine each of his major works or a collection of related writingscluded are discussions of such topics as critical reception themes narrative structure and point of view characterization and style settings and symbols and interpretations of his texts. Chapters close with lists of works for further reading and the volume concludes with several appendices and extensive primary and secondary bibliographies.