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    Stuff You Should Know

    The Life and Works of J.D. Salinger

    Tue Dec 05 2023
    JD SalingerThe Catcher in the RyeAmerican literatureReclusive authorsLiterary controversies

    Description

    This episode explores the life and work of JD Salinger, including his early life, writing career, war experiences, personal life controversies, and legacy. It delves into his famous novel "The Catcher in the Rye" and provides insights into his reclusive lifestyle. The episode also touches on unpublished works and the impact of his writing on American culture.

    Insights

    JD Salinger's Writing Style

    Salinger's plain and accessible writing style resonated with many readers, allowing them to discover emotion and meaning without being explicitly told.

    "The Catcher in the Rye" as a Spiritual Catharsis

    "The Catcher in the Rye" served as a spiritual catharsis for Salinger, helping him put World War II behind him and find peace.

    Controversies Surrounding JD Salinger

    JD Salinger faced controversies in his personal life, including allegations of manipulation and exploitation of young girls.

    JD Salinger's Reclusive Lifestyle

    Salinger lived a reclusive lifestyle, prioritizing his writing and building a secluded writing studio to work undisturbed.

    Legacy and Unpublished Works

    Despite controversies, JD Salinger's work is highly regarded, and there are plans to publish some of his unpublished works in the future.

    Chapters

    1. Tosh Show and Who Killed JFK
    2. JD Salinger's Early Life and Writing Career
    3. JD Salinger's Writing Style and Early Success
    4. JD Salinger's War Experiences
    5. JD Salinger's Personal Life and Success of The Catcher in the Rye
    6. Additional Insights on JD Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye
    7. Controversies Surrounding JD Salinger's Personal Life
    8. JD Salinger's Reclusive Lifestyle and Allegations
    9. JD Salinger's Legacy and Unpublished Works
    Summary
    Transcript

    Tosh Show and Who Killed JFK

    00:00 - 07:30

    • Daniel Tosh hosts a podcast called Tosh Show where he interviews interesting people, covering topics like religion, travel, sports, gambling, and being a working mother.
    • Rob Briner hosts the podcast Who Killed JFK, investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the cover-up.

    JD Salinger's Early Life and Writing Career

    07:04 - 14:19

    • JD Salinger published The Catcher in the Rye in 1951, which had a significant impact on American culture and shaped the image of disaffected teenagers.
    • Salinger was born in Manhattan, New York in 1919 to a Jewish father and an Irish Catholic mother. His father was distant while his mother was very supportive of his writing aspirations.
    • He grew up in an upper-middle-class family on Park Avenue and had a typical childhood, attending camp with other Jewish kids every summer.
    • Salinger attended McBurnie Preparatory School but didn't excel academically. He was then sent to Valley Forge Military Academy, which influenced his portrayal of Holden Caulfield's school experience in The Catcher in the Rye.
    • At Valley Forge, Salinger discovered acting and became involved in drama club activities. He also excelled academically and held leadership positions like editor of the yearbook.
    • In college at NYU, Salinger struggled with the lack of structure and eventually flunked out. His father wanted him to pursue a business career, but he decided to become a writer instead.
    • Salinger traveled to Poland to study under a renowned bacon expert but found it unappealing. He then went to Vienna where he lived with a Jewish family and fell in love with their daughter.
    • After leaving Vienna before the Nazis came into power, Salinger attempted college again but it didn't work out. Finally, he returned home determined to pursue writing despite his father's objections.

    JD Salinger's Writing Style and Early Success

    13:53 - 21:21

    • Salinger took a class given by editor Whitburn net and his wife Hallie, who discovered famous writers like Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Norman Mailer.
    • At Arsenius College, Salinger was inspired by Whitburn net's reading of a Faulkner short story and decided to write in a way that allows readers to discover the emotion and meaning without being explicitly told.
    • Salinger's writing was plain and accessible, which resonated with many people.
    • He had an epiphany that he should let readers figure things out for themselves instead of leading them along.
    • Despite failing a class, Salinger re-enrolled with more determination and impressed Gabe Burnett with his stories. Burnett mentored him and published his first work called "The Young Folks."
    • Salinger loved to write and wrote consistently throughout his life but didn't publish much.
    • The New Yorker turned him down seven times before accepting "Slight Rebellion Off Madison" which featured the character Holden Caulfield. However, they shelved the story for five years due to World War II.

    JD Salinger's War Experiences

    20:56 - 28:20

    • JD Salinger, known for writing "Catcher in the Rye," served in World War II and participated in major events such as D-Day and the liberation of Dachau.
    • Salinger's war experiences influenced his life and writing, with two-thirds of his regiment dying within weeks after D-Day.
    • He also survived battles in the Hertgen Forest and was present at Dachau when Hitler died.
    • Salinger eventually became a counterintelligence officer specializing in interrogating Nazis.
    • After the war, he sought treatment for PTSD at a hospital in Nuremberg and later wrote stories like "For Esmé with Love and Squalor" about recovering from PTSD.

    JD Salinger's Personal Life and Success of The Catcher in the Rye

    27:54 - 35:24

    • J.D. Salinger's stories often have an optimistic and hopeful tone, with things turning out for the best in the end.
    • He had a brief marriage to a woman named Sylvia, who he referred to as "saliva" for the rest of his life.
    • Salinger suffered from PTSD and tried to numb his pain by partying and sleeping around in New York City.
    • He turned to Zen Buddhism and later Hindu Vedic spirituality as part of his spiritual awakening.
    • To find peace and quiet for writing, Salinger moved from New York City to Westport, Connecticut, where he finished writing "The Catcher in the Rye."
    • "The Catcher in the Rye" became an immediate hit and has sold over 65 million copies to date.
    • Salinger was able to live off royalties from his book for the rest of his life.
    • The novel served as a spiritual catharsis for Salinger, helping him put World War II behind him.
    • The ending of "The Catcher in the Rye" offers hope but should not be spoiled.

    Additional Insights on JD Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye

    34:57 - 41:53

    • The author of The Catcher in the Rye had a negative experience with the publishing process and disliked aspects of the book's cover.
    • The value of a first edition copy of The Catcher in the Rye is mentioned, along with speculation about the potential worth of pages that were with the author during his time at Normandy.
    • Nine Stories, another work by the same author, is briefly mentioned as a collection of short stories.
    • The origin and meaning behind the title "The Catcher in the Rye" is explained, referring to a Robert Burns poem and symbolizing protecting children from losing their innocence.
    • After publishing The Catcher in the Rye, the author faced overwhelming attention from reporters and fans, which became overwhelming for someone seeking solitude and spiritual enlightenment.

    Controversies Surrounding JD Salinger's Personal Life

    48:15 - 55:33

    • JD Salinger had a relationship with a woman named Joyce Maynard, who later wrote about their relationship and accused him of manipulation.
    • JD Salinger remarried to a woman named Colleen O'Neill, who was much younger than him. She took care of him as his health declined.
    • Joyce Maynard has been criticized for profiting off her relationship with JD Salinger.
    • Tech entrepreneur Peter Norton bought personal letters from Salinger that were auctioned by Joyce Maynard.
    • Despite the controversies surrounding his personal life, JD Salinger's work is still highly regarded.
    • Matt Salinger, JD Salinger's son, plans to publish some of his father's unpublished work in the future.
    • There may be more stories about the Glass family in JD Salinger's unpublished works.
    • Michiko Kakutani wrote an insightful analysis of JD Salinger's writing career.

    JD Salinger's Reclusive Lifestyle and Allegations

    55:12 - 1:02:05

    • J.D. Salinger was a recluse and people were intrusive towards him, taking pictures of his mailbox and invading his privacy.
    • He sought connection with certain people but had a small circle of trust.
    • He bonded with a young woman named Claire Douglas over religion, particularly Vedanta and Hinduism.
    • Salinger immersed himself in religious study and philosophy in the mid-50s, before George Harrison's exposure to similar ideas in the 60s.
    • His daughter Margaret wrote a book portraying him negatively, while his son Matt defended him, calling Margaret's accounts gothic tales.
    • Salinger prioritized his writing over family and built a bunker-like writing studio where he could work undisturbed.
    • Peggy (Margaret) Salinger wrote a book called "Dreamcatcher" about her mother's treatment by Salinger, claiming emotional abuse and harsh living conditions.
    • Starting in the late 90s, different women came forward with allegations of manipulation and exploitation by Salinger when they were younger.
    • Salinger would groom young girls through friendship and letters before pursuing physical relationships with them once they were legally able to do so.
    • One example is Jean Miller, who was 14 when Salinger pursued her and had sexual intercourse with her at age 19 before immediately ending the relationship.

    JD Salinger's Legacy and Unpublished Works

    1:01:39 - 1:05:56

    • The podcast discusses the career of an individual, from being highly praised to receiving criticism towards the end.
    • A listener shares a story about how the recognition of a beer in a movie helped increase its sales.
    • The power of marketing is emphasized, and the host enjoys being proven right by listeners.
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