"The Catcher in the Rye" is a
novel by J.D. Salinger. It was published in 1951.
The 16-year-old Holden Caulfield narrates his own story of rebellion against the banality and hypocrasy of the middle-class values. He studies in a private
school in Pennsylvania and has just been expelled. An adventurous teenager, he
goes to New York City. He has an unsuccessful encounter with a prostitute and ends up in a skirmish with her. The next day he meets an old girlfriend, Sally Hayes, and takes her skating. Once again his spirits are lifted up and suggests that the two of them escape to the New England countryside. Sally thinks this is impractical and rejects his offer and plans. Holden is completely discouraged. He gets drunk and sees his
sister Phoebe, telling her that he
plans to go West.
Late that night he has an unsettling reunion with his former schoolteacher, Mr Antolini, who makes homosexual advances to him. The next morning Holden goes to Pheobe's school to say goodbye bent on leaving. Then he realizes he cares for his sister and decides to stay. Holden Caulfield has a nervous breakdown.
He tells his story while recovering. The book being published in the mid 1950s was advanced for all the swearing of a young
teenager at that point in time but Salinger has a way of making this classic novel an enjoyable read.
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