Catcher Copycat Forbidden To Publish In U.S., For Now

Holden Caulfield has been preserved for the time being, as a federal judge ruled that the the unauthorized "sequel" to Catcher in the Rye cannot be published in the United States, at least temporarily. The NY Times reports that Judge Deborah A. Batts "granted a 10-day temporary restraining order forbidding publication in the United States of a new book by a Swedish author that contains a 76-year-old version of Holden Caulfield while she considers arguments in a copyright-infringement case filed by Mr. Salinger." This whole thing would be more interesting if J.D. Salinger were actually showing up in court. During one past lawsuit, some of his personal remarks (from letters he didn't want published) were leaked, including one written in response to his ex-girlfriend Oona O'Neill's marriage to Charlie Chaplin. He wrote, "I can see them at home evenings. Chaplin squatting grey and nude, atop his chiffonier, swinging his thyroid around his head by his bamboo cane, like a dead rat. Oona in an aquamarine gown, applauding madly from the bathroom." Old man still has those writing chops!