How "The Catcher in the Rye" Finally Got an E-Book Edition

The pervasiveness of smartphones and tablet readers has helped to make audiobooks and e-books popular choices for those who lack the inclination to read traditional printed matter. Even as omnipresent as such technology is, it doesn’t mean every book is available in a digital format. Some older books—even immensely popular ones—are much less likely to be made into e-books or audiobooks.

Perhaps one of the most famous cases in point is J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye." While the book has been in print since the early 1950s, Holden Caulfied didn't make his digital debut until 2019, when "The Catcher in the Rye" (along with three other Salinger titles, "Franny & Zooey," "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters," and "Seymour: An Introduction") was finally released in an e-format. The story of the book's journey from print to digital is a tale in and of itself.

The History of "The Catcher in the Rye"

"The Catcher in the Rye" was first published in 1951 by Little, Brown, and Company. While a perennial favorite in many a high-school English class, this classic homage to teen angst is also one of the most challenged books of all time—routinely finding itself on banned books lists for its controversial themes and language.

Despite its detractors, protagonist Holden Caulfield's poignant coming-of-age tale has been considered a must-read among teens since it debuted. The novel continues to remain relevant all these years later. In fact, more than 65 million copies have been sold in traditional print format since it was first published. Approximately 250,000 copies are purchased every year—which works out to about 685 copies per day.

Public Demand vs. Public Domain

Books, including Salinger's, written prior to the early 2000s had no contract language to allow for the creation of things like e-books because they simply didn’t exist at the time. Unfortunately, for an eager audience of e-book and audio-book aficionados, that means many books cannot legally be made into digital fare until the copyright expires.

Copyright law states that authors maintain their copyright for their life plus 70 years. J.D. Salinger passed away on January 27, 2010, so his works won't reach the public domain until 2080.

J.D. Salinger's Heirs

Salinger's estate has maintained tightly controlled protection of the controversial novel in deference to Salinger, who was fiercely protective of his copyright. As a result, his wife, Colleen O'Neill Zakrzeski Salinger, and son, Matt Salinger, the executors of his estate, routinely denied requests for adaptations and derivatives.

In the 2010s, however, Matt Salinger began having second thoughts about releasing his father's works to a new generation of readers. When he realized that many readers favor e-books exclusively—including those with disabilities for whom ebooks are sometimes the only option—he finally decided to relent, ending the digital embargo.

An Audio Library Version Was Already Available

While an ebook was a long time coming, there's actually been an audio library version of the novel widely available since first being recorded in 1970 (it was re-recorded in 1999). This version, which can be accessed via library devices, offers an intriguing perspective on Salinger's most famous work. Listeners will hear the voice of Holden Caulfield's as interpreted by longtime National Library Service narrator Ray Hagen, who may be the only one associated with Holden Caulfield in audiobook format.