‘Catcher in the Rye’ author dies aged 91

Reclusive American author J.D. Salinger who wrote the post-war literary classic “The Catcher in the Rye” has died of natural causes aged 91 at his home in New Hampshire.

Salinger’s best known book, published in 1951 is a story of alienation and rebellion which resonates with readers – young and old – to this day.

At a New York bookshop Nicole Clarke said:
“He had a fulfilling life. He had a best-selling book. A book that is still read now. You know you are 91 and you could say, ‘Yes, my book is read by millions. My book has changed people’s lives.’”

Another avid reader Melissa Horne said: “I was very excited to read something so avant-garde. I was rather young although I didn’t really understand why people objected to it. I remember, I think I was 11 or 12, really kind of indentifying with that hero and thinking ‘Break out of the mould here.’”

Many schools and libraries either banned the book due to its use of profanity or championed it as a great literary portrayal of adolescence.

“Catcher” has been translated into the world’s major languages – selling more than 65 million copies – and is routinely listed among the best novels of the 20th Century.

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