| Synopsis | Web Sources | Other Sources | Internet Story | Story Sources |
After desperately seeking the reclusive author for close to fifty years, adoring fans of J.D. Salinger's work have been unable to gain a true grasp on the perspective of the man who wrote The Catcher in the Rye, Nine Stories, two other books and numerous short stories. The creator of such infamous literary characters as Holden Caulfield and the Glass Family has chosen a life of complete secrecy and hasn't published anything in over 35 years. The "Recluse of Cornish (NH)" remains possibly the most sought after interview in all of entertainment because of his absolute refusal to open up to the world. Salinger has achieved this popularity because of the incredible appeal of his main characters. Holden Caulfield, Salinger's main character from Catcher, is one of the most referenced figures in the history of fiction. Salinger's make-believe Glass family dominates many of his short stories and much of his later works.
Who is J.D. Salinger? Is there any way to find out? How accurate are past biographies
and documentaries that attempt to delve into his private life? There are countless
questions that could be asked about a man who has provided little to no answers
to the questions that have been repeatedly asked of him and those close to him
for many years.
My research of Salinger will be conducted in an attempt to learn and provide
as much information (hopefully factual) and insight into the mind of one of
my favorite authors. This research should be of interest to anyone who loves
The Catcher in the Rye, any of Salinger's other works and also to people who
just love literature and interesting biographical information.
Web Sources
1. Featured
Author: J.D. Salinger
Web Address: http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/13/specials/salinger.html
[Accessed 12 January 2001]
Brief Description: This is an excellent site that gives reviews of almost all
of Salinger's published works. It also links the viewer to several in-depth
articles on the reclusive author. Provided by the New York Times, this comprehensive
website provides great insight in to the works both by Salinger and about him.
Source of Web Site: The New York Times
2. J.D. Salinger "Bananafish"
Home
Web Address: http://www.salinger.org/
[Accessed 13 January 2001]
Brief Description: This site includes everything from biographical information
to the Genealogy of Salinger's three favorite families: Caulfield, Glass, and
Gladwaller. The site also provides opportunities to check on Salinger sitings,
appearances, publishing rumors, literary criticisms and much more. It is considered
the official website of Salinger enthusiasts.
Source of Web Site: Salinger.org staff members (life-long fans of the author's
writings)
3. Salon Daily Clicks:
Media Circus
Web Address: http://www.salon.com/media/media970120.html
[Accessed 12 January 2001]
Brief Description: This article from the respected online literary journal SALON.com
discusses the way Salinger vigorously defends his privacy. It also looks into
the potential re-release of "Hapworth 16, 1924," which Salinger was
considering re-releasing a few year's back. Gives a good overview of the author's
career and his deep desire to stay out of public life
Source of Web Site: SALON.com
4. Yet Another
Page on J.D. Salinger
Web Address: http://members.tripod.com/~SundeepDougal/jds.html
[Accessed 15 January 2001]
Brief Description: An incredibly thorough page devoted fully to Salinger, his
works and his characters. Although it contains almost too much information and
is not aesthetically pleasing, this site contains a variety of links to the
author's works, his life and other good related websites.
Source of Web Site: Sundeep Dougal (one of many individuals obsessed with Holden
Caulfield)
5. J.D. Salinger
Web Address: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/salinger.htm
[Accessed 15 January 2001]
Brief Description: This site concentrates on showing how Salinger got his start
writing short stories for various publications. It goes, mostly chronologically,
through all of his stories and books. The descriptions provide insight into
the characters that make-up the classic stories and the relatively unknown author
whom produced them.
Source of Web Site: Source not found
6. J.D. Salinger
Web Address: http://www.levity.com/corduroy/salinger.htm
[Accessed 15 January 2001]
Brief Description: Much like the other sites, this webpage starts by giving
a bit of biographical information on Salinger. Upon scrolling down, a visitor
to this page will notice links to other homepages, biographies and bibliographies
that may be effective in researching Salinger. The page also links to some excerpts
from the author's work, some magazine articles published about Salinger and
even more links that involve the author.
Source of Web Site: Bohemian Ink (Underground Literary Review)
UNC Libraries Print Sources
Alexander, Paul. Salinger: a Biography. Los Angeles: Renaissance Books, 1999.
UNC Call Number: PS3537.A426 A44 1999
Brief Description: In this work, Alexander comes as close as he can to delving
into the life of one of the media and public's most sought after figures --
the reclusive Jerome David Salinger. The book provided over 300 pages devoted
to all of Salingers works, characers and the events that shaped his life --
or at least the ones he could uncover. This book is pretty insightful for a
work that never had the luxury of speaking to its main character.
Hamilton, Ian. In Search of J.D. Salinger. New York: Random House, 1988.
UNC Call Number: PS3537.A426 Z65 1988
Brief Description: Hamilton effort is very similalr to Alexander's except it
was published a decade earlier without as much information available. Hamilton
became more famous for the lawsuits brought upon him for trying to track down
interviews with Salinger and acquaintances of the storied author than any recognition
received from the book. Nevertheless, the book is very insightful and offers
about as close a look into the man's live as the public could possibly request
at the time of its publication.
CD-ROM Source
DISCcovering authors modules, DOS version 2.0, "J.D. Salinger" [CD-ROM]
(Detroit: Gale Research Incorporated, 1996).
UNC Libraries Location:
Davis Reference Electronic Resource CD-ROM - CALL NUMBER: 65-16
Citation Num. 4 from Turabian (was closest one - believe me).
Academic Universe Lexis-Nexis Sources
Clemons, Walter. (1988, May 23). The phantom of Cornish. Newsweek [Online], 9 paragraphs. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [no date given].
Fasick, Angela. (1996, July 22). Salinger's writing is timeless. The Plain Dealer [Online], 16 paragraphs. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [1996, July 23].
Peary, Gerald. (1988, June 27). A novelist in hiding. Maclean's [Online], 5 paragraphs. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [no date given].
Shapiro, Laura. (1998, August 17). With love and squalor. Newsweek [Online], 8 paragraphs. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [1998, August 19].
Skinner, David. (1999, February 22). The sentimental misanthrope: Why J.D. Salinger can't write. The Weekly Standard [Online], 36 paragraphs. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [1999, February 22].
Solomon, Judith. (2000, December 4). From Peggy, with love and squalor. The Jerusalem Report [Online], 24 paragraphs. Available: LEXIS-NEXIS [2000, December 13].
Mini-Essay on an Internet Controversy
Napster Users Can Now Share Something Else - Tears
For over 40 years the day Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and the "Big Bopper"
died in a tragic plane crash has been considered by many to be the "Day
the Music Died." However, across the universities of America, the tear-filled
eyes of college kids sit glaring at their favorite website trying to accept
the grim reality that it can no longer exist as they have come to know love
it.
On Monday, Feb. 12, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th District (in San Francisco)
ruled that Napster, the popular website that enables users to trade audio files
in MP3 format, must stop allowing users to share copyrighted music. It was a
crushing blow for the Redwood City, CA-based company that was started by teenager
Shawn Fanning in 1999. Fanning's rags-to-riches story has been well documented.
Unfortunately, in the last few months the drawn-out legal battle has overshadowed
the accomplishments of Fanning and Napster.
While the service was a truly revolutionary idea that has attracted millions
of users, it will now face the possibility of being shut down forever if it
cannot reach an agreement with record companies who hold the copyrights to many
of the songs on Napster.
In October of 2000, Fanning inked a deal with German music conglomerate Bertelsmann
AG, in an early attempt to convert the site into a subscription-based service
that would charge users a monthly fee. This week's ruling also puts those plans
in jeopardy as well.
Right now, millions of Americans and Napster fans all over the world are flocking
to the site to download some of their favorite songs while they still can. At
on point last Sunday, over 14,000 users were extracting an unfathomable 2.5
million MP3 in fear of the looming decision. When the decision returns soon
from a revision and re-writing process, the revolutionary-turned-criminal Napster
will be forced to stop operating the way it has up till now.
While Fanning, Bertelsmann AG and the millions of users of Napster wait and
see exactly how things turn out and try to calculate the future of audio file
sharing on the web, perhaps some should hit play on that Don McClean song they
just downloaded and say "bye, bye."
NOTES:
(1) Michael Brick, "Court Rules Napster Users Infringe on Copyrights,"
The New York Times, 12 February 2001, 14 paragraphs. Also Available [Online]:
General Business File ASAP [Accessed: 13 February, 2001].
(2) Laura Sessions Stepp, "Napster Teens vs. the Move to Stop the Music Swap," The Washington Post, 16 February 2001, p. C06. Also Available [Online]: General Business File ASAP [Accessed: 16 February, 2001].
THREE WEB SITES FOR INTERNET STORY::
Napster: Legal Update
Web address: http://www.napster.com/legalupdate/
Brief Description: Coverage of the court's decision. Video and audio clips available
for both the decision and Napster's response. Pictures of Fanning available.
One can also delve further into the site and find Napster's policy on copyright
infringement.
Source of the Web Site: Napster.com
On the Court's Napster
Ruling
Web address: http://www.senate.gov/~leahy/press/200007/000728.html
Brief Description: Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy's press release regarding the
Napster decision. Very interesting piece that shows a legislature's point of
view - advocating the exchange of music online, but not necessarily for free.
Source of the Web Site: Senator Patrick Leahy
Special
Report: Music on the Web
Web address: http://www.latimes.com/business/reports/musicweb/ap_napster000727.htm
Brief Description: The L.A. Times ran this interesting piece about Napster and
the entire phenomena of audio file sharing online in response to the court's
decision. Lots of good info, interesting links.
Source of the Web Site: The Los Angeles Times
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