J. D. Salinger

This famous author was dating playwright Eugene O'Neill's daughter, Oona, in 1941. However, she soon ended their affair by marrying the legendary Charlie Chaplin.

In 1945, Jerome got married to Sylvia Welter, a German lady, in a small town called Pappenheim, Germany, when he was in the country for army service. However, the couple got divorced within eight months of marriage, amidst rumours that she was a war informant for her country.

In the late 1940s, this writer was drawn towards a sect of Buddhism known as 'Zen'.

Jerome David Salinger was born to a Jewish cheese-seller, Sol, and his Irish wife, Marie Jillich, in New York City, on January 1, 1919. The family, along with Jerome's older sibling, Doris, lived in Manhattan.

In 1932, the family took up residence in Park Avenue, New York City, where Jerome began attending the 'McBurney School'. In school, the young boy displayed an innate talent for literature, acting, and fencing.

Later, he joined the 'Valley Forge Military Academy', in Pennsylvania, where the boy started his literary activities, including penning down stories, and editing 'Cross Sabres', the school's yearbook. He also was a member of various co-curricular groups including the Aviation and French clubs.

After graduating from the 'Valley Forge Military Academy', he enrolled at the 'New York University', in 1936. He began pursuing a course in special education, but finding it difficult, quit college.

In 1937, Jerome travelled to Vienna to get trained in meat-packing, but left the place within a year, just before Austria became a part of Nazi Germany.

In 1938, he began attending the 'Ursinus College' in Pennsylvania, but dropped out once more. The following year, he enrolled for a writing class held in the evenings at the 'School of General Studies' affiliated to 'Columbia University'.

In 1939, during his time at 'Columbia University', he was trained and motivated by writer, Whit Burnett. Burnett was the founder and editor of a magazine called 'Story', and Salinger's short story 'The Young Folks' was printed the following year.

The budding writer worked with the 'Caribbean cruise ship' for a short period of time. During the same time, in 1941, he gave several short stories for publishing in 'The New Yorker' magazine, which were initially rejected.

In December, his story 'Slight Rebellion off Madison' was selected and printed by the magazine. The story depicted the life of a fictional teenager, Holden Caulfield, set against the backdrop of war. This was a time when the Pearl Harbour in the U.S. was attacked by Japan, and the story could not be published.

J.D. Salinger is best known for his 1951 novel, 'The Catcher in the Rye', which talks about the complexities of adolescence. More than 65 million copies of the book have been purchased since its release. It is considered by ‘Time’ magazine, ‘Modern Library’ publishing house, and the ‘BBC’, as one of the best English novels published in the 20th century.