A Literary Battle of Wits... Again, The Catcher in the Rye
Saturday June 27, 2009
A Swedish author--who claims that The Catcher in the Rye is "just a book"--is now being dragged into court for creating what J.D. Salinger claims is an unauthorized sequel. According to Publishers Weekly, the court case may force the famous author to take the stand. But, even if Salinger does manage to remain in the shadows (represented as he is by lawyers, agents, etc), this case offers us an intriguing twist in the controversial history of The Catcher in the Rye.The man who has created all the ruckus is Fredrik Colting (using the pseudonym John David California), and he's quoted in the PW article: “I wanted to explore what happens to characters. When a book is finished, do the characters cease to exist, or do they live on somehow?”
That's what a lot of us like to imagine. We like to think about what might have been--if J.D. Salinger had written a sequel, if the book hadn't ended as it did. But, for some of those questions, we can leave it to our own imagination (or wait until some far-future day when the "lost" works of J.D. Salinger will surface). I haven't read Colting's work, but I can't imagine it will compare very favorably with The Catcher in the Rye. But, there's the thing--we can't really speak to the quality of the book, nor make comparisons. We just don't know, and we may not know for a long, long time.
So, what do you think? Should the Swedish author be allowed to publish the book? Is the claim of "parody" an acceptable defense? Does it detract from the original? Would a story of this sort help you to imagine the main characters in a different/better light (or is it detestable)?
Comments
NO. Salinger has fiercely protected Holden for many years and for good reason. HIS creation is his to do with as he wishes. The story is pure and achingly true as it is.
Sorry to take you off on a tangent, Ms. Lombardi, but I could use your opinion/assistance/advice in another area. I am trying to determine for a client of mine, whether or not a quotation from Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” can be used in an advertising piece with attribution in a fair use context. Or, does such use require obtaining specific permission(s). from the copyright owner, the identity of which we have not yet been able to determine. We have seen the particular quotation used commercially before, but have not been able to determine conclusively that there is an intellectual property consideration to be dealt with. The quotation reads, ” One cannot live well, think well, love well, if one does not dine well.” Please offer us a considered opinion if you’d be so kind.
Salinger should be thanking his lucky stars that
this will spike the sales of Catcher.
Holden was created by Salinger and belongs to him totally. I applaud him taking this miscreant to court over an obvious copyright violation. Someone wants to right a sequel to Catcher in the Rye? Wait the 75 years after Salinger is dead, until then, no deal!
i suspect Vonnegut took it as a compliment when Farmer wrote a book by Kilgore Trout. it’s nice to know you’ve built a foundation.
Writing a sequel to Catcher is a terrible idea! If you want to read more about Holden, simply track down the other stories Salinger wrote with Holden in them. “Slight Rebellion Off Madison”, “I’m Crazy”, “Last Day of the Last Furlough”, and “This Sandwich Has No Mayonnaise”. All feature Holden, track them down!
who owns this character?
What rights do creative people have over their works?
It is not about whether this guy will do a good job or not, it is about creative control, and having the right to say.
many writers dread having their books made into films because they lose creative control over them.
No, I don’t think this guy should be able to publish an authorized sequal to a book the auther chose not to continue.
Detestible as to the man who wants to glom onto Salinger’s novel and write a sequel. I have no respect for someone who wants to profit from another’s work. The Court, I believe, will agree with Salinger, and halt the sale of this junk here, and maybe asess damages.
I can’t blame the guy for trying. Could he do so little as change the names to help alleviate any infringement laws ? I will read his book if given the opportunity.
Yeah, I’d read it too. I’d love to be able to speak with some knowledge about how good or bad the book is
I think I read that the book will appear overseas; just not in the US. So, I guess we could all get our fill by ordering it from over there.
EL