Reclusive author J.D. Salinger died of natural causes Wednesday in his home in Cornish, N.H., where he resided for the last 50 years of his life, his family said Thursday. He was 91.
Most famous for his 1951 high school curriculum-staple ‘The Catcher in the Rye,’ Salinger also wrote ‘Nine Stories,’ ‘Franny and Zooey’ and ‘Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction,’ each of which chronicled the exploits of the fictional Glass family, to whom Salinger dedicated much of his writing career to immortalize.
Many Boston University students said Salinger’s works had a profound impact on the literary community, becoming a cornerstone of most students’ educations.
‘He definitely had a big influence on short stories and changed the way people perceived the coming of age genre and how people looked at the world,’ said College of Arts and Sciences freshman Angela Marusiak.
CAS freshman A.J. Herrmann emphasized Salinger’s innovative writing style and relevant themes.
‘I think he was sort of ahead of his time because he was writing about something so different from other contemporaries of his time and I think that was why he was so controversial,’ Herrmann said. ‘I think he would be just as revered in the writing community today if he was writing today.’
The best-selling ‘The Catcher in the Rye,’ which documents the exploits of cynical, angst-ridden teenager Holden Caulfield, struck an immediate chord with American audiences upon its publication. It also prompted controversy for its blunt depiction of teenage drinking and sexuality, becoming both one of the most censored books in the country and also one of the most commonly taught.
The novel is widely considered to be a quintessential coming-of-age novel for American teenagers.
‘J.D. Salinger had an immense influence on the writing world and set a precedent for coming-of-age novels as a whole,’ said CAS freshman Gabrielle Kur. The novel’s quick success prompted Salinger to shy away from media attention. He moved from New York to Cornish in 1953 and retreated into his home, avoiding contact with both fans and the press.
Some BU students said reading ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ in high school greatly influenced their personal maturations. ‘J.D. Salinger profoundly affected my adolescence and taught me to be my own person and not care what people think,’ said CAS freshman Rebecca Rutenberg.
CAS senior Laura Marcucci said Salinger’s death was significant because his work provided a commonality that connected people of all backgrounds.
‘I love the book. His death was monumental,’ she said. ‘Someone we all knew has passed.’
Salinger had not published any of his writings since 1965, when a short story entitled ‘Hapworth, 16, 1924′ appeared in The New Yorker.’ Although many have talked of finding unpublished manuscripts in his home, Salinger’s family requested that readers respect his lifelong desire for privacy.
CAS sophomore Allyson Galle said Salinger’s passing is a somber moment for the literary world.
‘It’s always sad to see a literary legend pass on,’ Galle said. ‘When somebody contributed so much, you don’t want to think of it ending.’
Salinger is survived by his two children, Matthew and Margaret, as well as his second wife Claire Douglas, whom he divorced in 1967.
Staff writers Suzanne Schiavone and Jaime Lutz contributed to the reporting of this article. ‘