J.D. SALINGER The Escape Artist

As Thomas Beller delves into Salinger's writings, letters, and early youth, narrator Grover Gardner narrates in the direct tone so familiar to Salinger devotees. Author Beller's approach to this Salinger biography is to infuse it with his passion for the elusive writer's classic works, while drawing personal parallels to his own life. Gardner narrates simply and quietly, with little emphasis or emotion, but still conveys the famed author's private life, family background, and struggles as an artist with insight and depth. Beller examines Salinger's personal motivations, especially his ultimate choice to spend half a century in seclusion in small-town New Hampshire. This biography sheds light on the popular author's perplexing flight from the publishing world and his fans from 1953 until his death in his 90s. A.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2014]