Upon reading The Catcher in the Rye, Franny and Zooey, and Nine Stories, it is obvious that they have been written by the same man, J.D. Salinger. In each work, Salinger reveals a new facet of his own mysterious person. Today, Salinger lives as a recluse, writing only for himself and avoiding the press. Consequently, the only access to his unusual character is through his books and short stories. The typical Salinger work is a quest for enlightenment or happiness, supported by intricate symbolism and sprinkled with religious ideas.

Salinger's magnum opus, The Catcher in the Rye, follows an adolescent, Holden Caulfield, on his search for his identity. Holden tries on various identities, mostly concerning his sexuality, on his struggle to break into the adult world. He wears a distinguishing red "hunting hat" as he searches. He breaks down and the book ends with a frustrated and...