Salinger: A Biography

As good a biography of Salinger as we're likely to get for a while. Alexander...[has] succeeded in placing Salinger in the context of his times, and in finding in the author's life seeds of inspiration for his fiction. Boston Globe

Alexander has drawn an eerie portrait of an increasingly eccentric writer whose attempts to maintain his privacy [are] actually...a manipulative way of promoting himself and his books. Library Journal

Alexander documents, among other things, Salinger's nervous breakdown after World War II; his hatred of New York publishers; his hatred of Hollywood; and his ugly divorce from Clair Douglas. Liz Smith

For hardcore fans, this biography is a must. Toronto Sun

It is safe to say that Alexander will not be making any friends among the faithful by bringing us even closer to a man who wants to be known only as the creator of Holden Caulfield. New York Magazine

Alexander's volume is a major publishing event...A skilled investigative reporter, journalist, and biographer. Alexander surveyed numerous archives...to get his 'story'...Strongly recommended. Choice

As good a biography of Salinger as we're likely to get for a while. Alexander...[has] succeeded in placing Salinger in the context of his times, and in finding in the author's life seeds of inspiration for his fiction. --Boston Globe

Alexander has drawn an eerie portrait of an increasingly eccentric writer whose attempts to maintain his privacy [are] actually...a manipulative way of promoting himself and his books. --Library Journal

Alexander documents, among other things, Salinger's nervous breakdown after World War II; his hatred of New York publishers; his hatred of Hollywood; and his ugly divorce from Clair Douglas. --Liz Smith

For hardcore fans, this biography is a must. --Toronto Sun

It is safe to say that Alexander will not be making any friends among the faithful by bringing us even closer to a man who wants to be known only as the creator of Holden Caulfield. --New York Magazine

Alexander's volume is a major publishing event...A skilled investigative reporter, journalist, and biographer. Alexander surveyed numerous archives...to get his 'story'...Strongly recommended. --Choice

Paul Alexander holds an M.F.A. from the Writer's Workshop at the University of Iowa. He is the author of biographies of Sylvia Plath, James Dean, and Andy Warhol. A former reporter for Time, he has written for numerous magazines, most recently including Mirabella and Rolling Stone. He is a currently a featured political correspondent for Bloomberg News.