Here are a few key points about J.D. Salinger's writing career:
- Salinger published several short stories from 1940 to 1965, with his most famous work being the 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye.
- Though his writing career only spanned about 26 years between his first and last published works, Salinger had an outsized influence on American literature in the mid-20th century.
- The Catcher in the Rye in particular resonated with post-World War II readers and has sold over 65 million copies worldwide. It portrayed the angst and rebellion of teenagers in a way that was groundbreaking.
- After 1965, Salinger became a recluse and published nothing