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Lot 207
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J.D. Salinger TLS, on his book "Catcher In The Rye", notes he hates signing his book and furthermore does not have extra copies lying around.
J.D. Salinger TLS, on his book "Catcher In The Rye", notes he hates signing his book and furthermore does not have extra copies lying around.
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Description:

Salinger J. D.

Single page TLS on light orange paper stock, 8.5" x 11". Dated "June 7, 1976", and signed by J.D. Salinger as "Jerry". Expected folds, else near fine.

Salinger writes a dear friend from the 1940's and 1950's both pre/post and during the writing of Catcher In The Rye, lamenting that he has "sworn off' book signings--but he states this in a way that only Salinger can write, "I more or less swore off writing my name in books with little vacuous phrases tacked on in front, like "With all good wishes" or "Yours till Niagara Falls," etc and it's such empty and awful bunkeroo to inscribe strangers' books anyway". True to form, no matter how many years have now passed since his ground breaking novel, Catcher In The Rye, we still see the "boy" in Salinger, the one who questions the status quo, who perceives the everyday trivial as purposeless (mundane or boring would be too soft an adjective). Salinger the recluse, Salinger the egoist, Salinger, the impatient with the society and the everyday background banter of life. Since 1953, after his success of "Catcher", Salinger moved to seclusion in Cornish, New Hampshire, in a spacious, comfortable chalet-style house on 90 acres situated on the top of a hill overlooking the lush Connecticut River Valley. While most authors embrace their readership, and include book signings and nationwide tours, Salinger beat to a different drummer.

Salinger retreated from the public, was not in the habit of greeting strangers kindly and even was known to brandish a shotgun at trespassers.

But with all that said, Salinger did continue his serial interest with extremely young woman. He may now have aged, but his attraction to teenage woman did not. Joyce Miller once upon a time was one such pursuit for Salinger. Salinger and Joyce had a long on-going relationship during her years with the New Yorker, who was on the staff of The New Yorker in the late 1940's and early 1950's and while Salinger lived in CT while writing "Catcher In The Rye". She was young, innocent, and a budding writer …. A trend which repeats itself for Salinger throughout his life, leaving a trail of relationships with young woman in his wake. (At the time of this letter Salinger had yet just ended another relationship with another 18 year old who also wrote for the New York Times Magazine, Joyce Maynard).

Twenty five to thirty years have passed since Salinger's active relationship with Joyce Miller, and today Salinger responds to her request to sign a copy of his book "Catcher In The Rye" with marked emotional distance, yet emoting respect and awareness of the bond they once shared, "If this is a well-loved neice[sic] of yours, this young Onandaga (pretty funny name for a girl, though, I must say), and if you promise note to grow any more well-loved neices[sic], I'll accommodate you, madam. Gladly …" Salinger, who by now was a full recluse, fought with every last breadth to avoid all the media and fame his book brought to him. He would go about his business in Cornish in blue mechanics overalls, eating in the kitchen of restaurants if he ate out at all, and drive around in an old jeep with curtains at the windows.

A remarkable letter. Housed within these two paragraphs Salinger shows his age, his acknowledgement of a bond from his distant past, and his continued distain for people. There is much said between the physical lines of his response. But perhaps most revealing is that this author does not even have an extra copy lying about of his book, Catcher In The Rye.", "I'd save you the trouble of mailing, but I really haven't any extra copies around". Could this be yet another example of a man who wished to escape from his fame, and anything related to it?

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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