The Catcher in the Rye

Brief Overview

"The Catcher in the Rye" is a novel by American writer J.D. Salinger, first published in 1951. The story is set in post-war New York City in the late 1940s. The protagonist, sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, narrates a few days of his life following his expulsion from a private school, leading up to his psychological breakdown and subsequent treatment. Holden experiences a profound sense of alienation and disdain for the phoniness of the adult world, struggles with communication issues, and is troubled by the loss of his younger brother. The book explores themes of teenage crisis, self-identity, loss of innocence, and the transition to adulthood.