"A Perfect Day for Bananafish" [story in] The New Yorker, January 31, 1948

New York: The New Yorker Magazine, 1948.

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Softcover. The complete story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in *The New Yorker* for January 31, 1948. Quarto. A newsstand edition, not obscured by a mailing label. Wrappers worn at the extremities, a small split at the foot of the spine, and very light waviness to several rear pages, very good. One of Salinger's best and most famous stories, and the first to feature the Glass family, centering on Seymour, the brilliant but troubled eldest sibling of Franny and Zooey. One of the most important stories of Salinger's career – William Maxwell at *The New Yorker*, which had previously published only one other Salinger story, liked the initial draft but asked Salinger to revise it. Whereas he had previously just taken his writing elsewhere upon any initial rejection, this time he decided to work with editors Maxwell and Gus Lobrano. Upon its publication he was immediately hailed as an important new and singular voice in American fiction. The partnership with *The New Yorker* was sufficiently agreeable on both sides that the magazine signed him to a first-refusal contract, a great coup for any young writer. This story was later collected in *Nine Stories* but is scarce in its original format, particularly in collectible condition. A particularly desirable issue.

Item #350845

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Item #350845 "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" [story in] The New Yorker, January 31, 1948. J. D. SALINGER.

J.D. Salinger
birth name: Jerome David Salinger
born: 1/1/1919
died: 01/27/2010
nationality: USA

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Biography

Famously reclusive American writer who so despised the 1949 film My Foolish Heart, an adaptation of his short story "Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut," that he never again allowed any of his works to be adapted to film. Ironically, a movie poster for the 1947 film Dear Ruth starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield inspired the name for the hero of his most famous work and only published novel. The Catcher in the Rye (1951) won critical acclaim and devoted admirers, especially among the post-World War II generation of college students. His entire corpus of published works consists of one novel and 13 short stories.more

Collecting tips:

Salinger's first book The Catcher in the Rye (1951) is his most eagerly sought after. Contrary to what some sources will tell you, early reprint jackets also have Salinger's photo on the back. The trick to spotting early reprint jackets (which are also taller than the first edition jacket but could have been trimmed by someone) is in the price on the front flap - see our notes about The Catcher in the Rye to learn the difference.

The magazine printings of his stories are desirable and can be relatively expensive. The author's obsession with privacy (booksellers, including us, routinely received nuisance mail from his representatives whenever we offered something he objected to - I mean who has the time?) has helped to make whatever he objected to more desirable - the proof of the Ian Hamilton biography (which quotes Salinger letters without his permission) was suppressed and consequently sought after, and the pirated Uncollected Stories of J.D. Salinger (1974 - two volumes in wrappers) might get you some mail from a genuine Salinger representative if you offer them for sale.

Email us to request a printed copy of our catalog of J.D. Salinger Rare Books and First Editions (or download it via the link as a 2.72 MB pdf file). We also offer a comprehensive J. D. Salinger Bibliography and Price Guide.more