JD Salinger (1919-2010)

JD Salinger, the nearly mythic author of Catcher in the Rye, Nine Stories and Franny and Zooey, died yesterday, January 27th, at age 91.

While his death will almost certainly bring forth conversation of his legendary reclusiveness and his reportedly odd personal habits, we should all remember his genius. And not only during Catcher. Try to get through Nine Stories without being personally affected by it in one way or another.

In the mid-40's, Salinger got his start by publishing in the literary magazine circuit. And when we remember Salinger, we all remember the good that can come from a publisher giving a talented and radically new voice his or her chance to tell a story in his or her own way. Salinger's work proves that taking publishing chances can be good not only for the writer, but for the publisher and the literary world as a whole.

HFR thanks JD Salinger for his brief but truly meaningful contributions to American letters. Our condolences go out to his loved ones. Click here for more on Salinger.