The Catcher in the Rye

jerome-d-salinger

Since his debut in 1951 as "The Catcher in the Rye," Holden Caulfield has been synonymous with "cynical adolescent."

Holden narrates the story of a couple of days in his sixteen-year-old life, just after he's been expelled from prep school, in a slang that sounds edgy even today and keeps this novel on banned book lists.

His constant wry observations about what he encounters, from teachers to phonies (the two of course are not mutually exclusive), capture the essence of the eternal teenage experience of alienation.

Genres classicsfictionyoung adultliteratureschoolcoming of agenovelshigh schoolamericanbanned books

192 pages, Unknown Binding

First published July 16,1951

Literary awards

teen read award, national book award finalist,

Places

new york city new york, agerstown pennsylvania,

This edition

Format: 192 pages, Unknown Binding
Published: January 1, 1994 by Klett/Penguin
ISBN: 9783125738065
ASIN: 3125738067
Language: English

Characters More characters

Holden Caulfield

The 16-year-old protagonist of author J. D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is naive and at the same time resentful of the adult world. One of his most striking qualities is his powerful revulsion for all things "phony". At six feet, two-an...
Robert Ackley

Holdens next-door neighbor at Pencey Prepmore...
Stradlater

Holdens roommate at Pencey Prepmore...
Phoebe Caulfield

Holdens 10 year old sister who he loves a lot because she listens and understands him more than others. more...
Allie Caulfield

Holdens younger brother who died three years before the novel from leukemia.more...
D.b Caulfield

Holdens older brother who wrote a volume of short storiesmore...