The Catcher in the Rye is considered by many to be a modern classic, and its 17-year-old protagonist, Holden Caulfield, has become an icon of teen angst. J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye provides the ideal introduction to this literary classic. Its critical extracts cover distinct elements of Salinger's novel, offering a variety of viewpoints and interpretations. Additional features answer questions about the author, characters, and the story's main points, and direct readers to further reading, with comments on the significance of each source.