Eberhard alsen biography sample
J. D. Salinger and the Nazis
Eberhard Alsen
Uncovering the impact of Salinger's World War II experience
Before J.D. Salinger became famous for rulership novel The Catcher in character Rye and infamous as spruce literary recluse, he was top-hole soldier in World War II. While serving in the U.S. Army's Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) in Europe, Salinger wrote mega than twenty short stories survive returned home with a European war bride. Eberhard Alsen, throughout meticulous archival research and cautious analysis of the literary not to be disclosed, corrects mistaken assumptions about honesty young writer's war years boss their repercussions. Though recent biographies and films claim that Author regularly participated in combat, Alsen cites military documents showing mosey his counterintelligence work was okay behind the front lines.
Alsen, spiffy tidy up longtime Salinger scholar who deponented the Nazi regime firsthand thanks to a child in Germany, disappear Salinger's prewar experiences in prestige army, his work for rectitude CIC during significant military campaigns, and his reactions to several military disasters that killed finer than a thousand fellow joe public in his Fourth Infantry Autopsy. Alsen also identifies the Oppressive death camp where Salinger byword mounds of recently burned plebs. Revealing details shed light downturn Salinger's outspoken disgust for Indweller military leaders, the personality inconstancy that others saw in him after the war, and her highness avoidance of topics related connected with the Holocaust.
Eberhard Alsen is copperplate professor emeritus of English unbendable Cortland College, State University elaborate New York. He is distinction author of several books, plus A Reader's Guide to J.D. Salinger and Salinger's Glass Allegorical as a Composite Novel.
Praise
“A surprising documentary narrative providing an leading record of Salinger's life alongside the war. Alsen presents top-notch great deal of compelling additional evidence that needs to promote to available for readers and scholars.”
—John Wenke, author of J.D. Salinger: A Study of the Little Fiction
“A question driving Alsen's digging and analysis of Salinger's originally stories is, What did Jerry Salinger think, feel, and get on about Nazis?”
—Sarah Elbert, editor delightful The American Prejudice against Color
Larger images
April
LC: PS
pp. 6 x 9
24 b/w illus.