J.D Salinger is considered a literary giant even though his output was nowhere near as large as many others of his comtemporaries. It is mostly because of his most famous novel, The Catcher in the Rye, that he fame grew so large and encouraged such a large amount of public interest into his life. Of course, this is exactly how it should be... it's always about the quality of the work and never the quantity. Anyone can write reams of rubbish.
Critics regard his writing as having set a new course for literature in an America only recently emerging from World War II. His tone struck a chord with many youth of the day and the book had an impact upon the culutre of the day.
Salinger was not an easy man, not easy to understand at least. He is almost as famous as a recluse as for having written The Catcher in the Rye. It was in 1953 that he moved from New York City and took upon himself a secluded and secret, well-hidden life. Away from the prying eye and media glare. In fact, there was only 1 story published from him from that time until his death.
This was a writer who never wrote just for the sake of writing as so many others do, whether it be for profit or the feeling that 'a writer writes'. Here we had a true writer that wrote only from his heart. How many of us really have all that much to say that means anything anyway? Most thought is noise and hardly worth considering.
True sentiment is rare.
While no works were published he did in fact continue writing in private, he worked every day. Controversy runs wild that there may be as many as 10 finished novels lying in his house.