Is Holden Caulfield Overrated?

Catcher-in-the-rye

This first review, along with dozens upon dozens of other gushing essays, accolades, inclusion on nearly every “Best Books of the Twentieth Century” list, and one of the best word-of-mouth buzz campaigns in literary history, cemented its reputation as the defining novel of teenage angst and alienation.

Hillary Kelly, at The New Republic, celebrates the 63rd birthday of The Catcher in the Rye.