Sunday, January 31, 2010

One more J.D. Salinger post

I read this piece from the Rutland VT Herald a couple of days ago and found it charming. It inspired an appreciation for our neighbors that often needs to be re-inspired. I also noted that every time we saw an article or post about Salinger's passing, it was accompanied by the same ancient head-and-shoulders photo. Even relative recluses like Cormac McCarthy appear in public occasionally. Only Howard Hughes comes to mind as equally hermit-like.

Many of the obits say that Salinger felt the sting of literary criticism so bitterly that he withdrew into anonymity, told his publishers to remove his photo from his book covers, and (if he wrote at all) kept his work from sight - with one minor exception - for the rest of his life. He only surfaced via lawyers to protect his work and privacy.

I think you'll enjoy reading about J.D. Salinger in Cornish, NH...and the endless parade of English Majors. Thanks, David S!

1 comment:

Jim Thurber said...

The only thing different about Salinger was that he wrote a popular book. Amazing that people chased after him for the rest of his life. Personally I thought the UPS guy had it right.

Delighted he found refuge " . . . far from the madding crowd" in Cornish. Good ole New Hampshire, home of Peter White and Jerry Salinger (and Mt Washington!)