MADE BY: AARON KREINHISTORY OF THE NOVEL

The book was first published on July 16, 1951 by Little, Brown and Company. It has been reprinted

eight times.

“an unusually brilliant first novel."

- Nash K. BurgerNew York Times

Around 250,000 copies are sold each year. Spent 30 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. Listed as one of the best novels of the 20th century.

Inspired 41st President Of The U.S. George H. W. Bush. Adam Gopnik considers it 1 of the

“3 perfect books” in American Literature along with Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby. Was included on ‘s 2005 list of the 100 best

English-language novels written since 1923. Was nominated for the National Book Award for

Fiction.

Achievements/Facts

IN POP CULTURE

Green Day was inspired by the book to write a song called “Who wrote Holden Caulfield?”

“The Good Girl,” a 2002 film starring Jennifer Aniston, focused on a woman who has an affair with a man (Jake

Gyllenhaal) who believes he’s incarnation of Holden Caulfield.

A punk band Pencey Prep was influenced by the school in the book to name their band.

“Poetic License: An Ode to Holden Caulfield” was an episode of Boy Meets World dedicated to the author.

Infamo

usFacts

In 1960, A teacher was fired for assigning the book but was later rehired. In 1982, the book became the most censored novel in United States high schools and libraries. (In 1981, it was the most censored but also the second most assigned book in high schools of the United States.) The book was one of ten most challenged books by the American Library Association in 1990-1999, 2005, and 2009. It was listed because of vulgar language, sexual references, disrespect towards religion, dissing family values, poor role modeling, rebellion encouragement, promotion for drinking, smoking lying, and promiscuity. Mark David Chapman was Influenced by the novel to murder John Lennon. He was arrested with a copy of the book. John Hinckley Jr. assassination attempt on 41st President of the United States Ronald Reagan in 1981 was influence by the book. Robert John Bardo shot actress Rebecca Schaeffer after years of stalking her before hand. Like Chapman, he was arrested with a copy of the book.

PLANS FOR A MOTION PICTURE J.D. Salinger stated he didn’t want his book to be put on the big screen unless he could play the part of Holden. Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey Weinstein, Steven Spielberg, and Jerry Lewis are among many who have tried to make this book a movie. After Salinger’s death in early 2010, the rights of the novel were left to his wife and family.