Now back in print—a timeless collection of essays celebrating one of American literature's most acclaimed and enigmatic iconsJ. D. Salinger's provocative writing and unmatched eye for the contours of American youth have earned him a place in literary and cultural history. Few living American writers enjoy more exuberant and widespread acclaim—though in his ninety years Salinger has published only one novel, the extraordinary The Catcher in the Rye, and several enormously successful short story collections.In 1962—before the shy and elusive author made his mysterious withdrawal from public life—editor Henry Anatole Grunwald asked twenty-six of Salinger's peers to explore the perplexing questions surrounding the writer and his work. What manner of man was he? Was he primarily a social commentator, a satirist, a religious fanatic, or simply a genius? This new edition of the classic work, revived in the ninth decade of Salinger's life, stands as an extraordinary time capsule—an intimate examination and appreciation of a singular American literary artist whose work remains powerful and true to this day.