First published in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye details 48 hours in the life of Holden Caulfield. The novel is the only novel-length work by J.D. Salinger, and its history has been colorful. The Catcher in the Rye is famous as the most censored, banned and challenged book between 1966 and 1975 for being "obscene," with an "excess of vulgar language, sexual scenes, and things concerning moral issues."
1. Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger. Little, Brown & Company. From the publisher: "Ever since it was first published in 1951, this novel has been the coming-of-age story against which all others are judged. Read and cherished by generations, the story of Holden Caulfield is truly one of America's literary treasures."
2. J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye
by Harold Bloom. Chelsea House Publishers. From the publisher: "Harold Bloom compares Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s 'Catcher in the Rye' to Mark Twain’s unforgettable character of Huck Finn. This edition of Bloom’s Notes focuses on Salinger’s novel. Along with a collection of some of the best criticism available on his work, this text includes a brief biography of the author, structural and thematic analysis, an index of themes and ideas, and more."3. The Catcher in the Rye: Innocence Under Pressure
by Sanford Pinsker. Simon & Schuster. From the publisher: "Sanford Pinsker's reading of 'The Catcher in the Rye' goes through the novel chronologically, in a manner perfectly conducive to side-by-side reading, and provides helpful chapters on historical background and critical reception."4. Catcher in the Rye: New Essays
by J. P. Steed. Peter Lang Publishing. From the publisher: "These essays provide new commentary and new insights and demonstrate the continuing relevance of Salinger, 'The Catcher in the Rye,' and Holden Caulfield to American culture and literature, and, in turn, to American cultural and literary studies."5. In Cold Fear: The Catcher in the Rye and Postwar American Characters
by Pamela Hunt Steinle. Ohio State University Press. From the publisher: "Attempts to remove Catcher from high schools as an 'un-American' text have generated continuous and extensive controversy, distinguishing it as one of the most frequently taught postwar novels--and the most frequently censored."6. New Essays on The Catcher in the Rye
by Jack Salzman (Editor). Cambridge University Press. From the publisher: "In his introduction to this volume, Jack Salzman discusses the history of the novel's composition and publication, the mixed reception it has received from critics and scholars, the arguments surrounding the attempts at censorship, and its position in a postmodernist literary world. The essays that follow focus on various aspects of the novel..."7. The Catcher in the Rye : A Unit Plan
by Mary B. Collins. Teachers Pet Publications Inc. This book includes an introduction, along with objectives, assignments for reading, an outline, and study questions. You'll also find tests, games, activities, ideas, and suggestions to engage students in the study of "The Catcher in the Rye," by J.D. Salinger.8. Understanding The Catcher in the Rye: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources
by Sanford Pinsker, and Ann Pinsker. Greenwood Publishing Group. From the publisher: "This rich source of social, cultural, and historical documents and commentary will illuminate the reading of 'The Catcher in the Rye'... In addition to a literary analysis, this casebook acquaints students with the larger world in which Holden Caulfield moves: Hollywood films, Broadway plays, and jazz musicians. It also presents a detailed account of the censorship challenges to the novel..."9. Holden Caulfield
by Harold Bloom. Chelsea House Publishers. From the publisher: "The first section of this essay reprints short critical extracts from Holden Caulfield, including comparisons to such characters as Hamlet, David Copperfield, Huck Finn, and Jay Gatsby. The second section reprints full-length essays written over the last four decades. Donald P. Costello provides a detailed account of Holden's use of language, Jonathan Baumbach explores the saintly quality of Holden..."10. Reclaiming Literature: A Teacher's Dilemma
by William A. Glasser. From the publisher: "Seven classic American novels are examined in 'Reclaiming Literature': 'Moby Dick,' 'The Portrait of a Lady,' 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' 'The Turn of the Screw,' 'The Red Badge of Courage,' 'A Farewell to Arms,' and 'The Catcher in the Rye.' Each of these has brought forth persisting controversies from the time of initial publication."