About the author

Jerome David Salinger, author of "The Catcher in the Rye." was born in New York on January 1st 1919, son of Sol Salinger and Miriam Salinger. Salinger attended Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania after previously failing at the McBurney School in New York. Salinger then studied at Ursinus College and New York University. Salinger published his first story at the age of 21 with the help of good friend Whit Burnett. Just when Salinger's career as a writer started, World War II broke out and he had to serve in the army. During Salinger's time in the army, he began to create his novel, "The Catcher in the Rye." After the war, Salinger was involved with 4 different women, 3 of which he married, and one of which he had 2 children with. In 1951, Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" was published and was very popular. He was showered with praise as well as criticisms about his book. The book has sold over 120 million copies and is considered a classic in English Literature.