Never Won a Major Prize
The Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger
Summary
Sixteen year old Holden Caulfield narrates two restless days in New York City after his expulsion from Pencey Prep, railing against phonies while quietly grieving his younger brother Allie. Salinger captures the voice of adolescent alienation with unmatched intimacy and humor. The novel became a rite of passage for generations of readers.
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Historical Context & Significance
The 1951 National Book Award went to the Collected Stories of William Faulkner and Salinger won nothing at all. The novel sold tens of millions of copies anyway and never left the cultural conversation.