Re: the complete works

John Smith (johnsmiii@yahoo.com)
Wed, 18 Aug 1999 14:42:48 -0700 (PDT) 

                                                  Mary Aaron
Caulfield	                            New York Times
                                                  426 Madison Ave      
                            229 West 43rd St.
                                             New York, NY              
                  New York, NY
                                                  10017                
                            10036

July 19, 1951

To whom it may concern:

However you may have interpreted Mr. Nash Burger’s glowing review of my
son’s, Holden
Caulfield, illicit journal, I am heretofore asking you to please
consider what effects your constant
attention to our private life is having on our family.  I am asking
you, please, do not provoke this
fascination with my son and his therapeutic agent, Jerome David
Salinger, by acclaiming a boy’s
life while you promote fiction. 

First, for those who have not read my son’s journal, The Catcher In The
Rye, it was published
without the consent of me or his father.  Since its inception, we have
received garbage pails full
of kind letters, but they remain unopened.  My husband, Aaron, has
asked the post office to
return the letters addressed to Holden because we simply cannot answer
them all.

Second, the book received mixed praise by various reviewers.  Mr.
Burger thought it was a
‘brilliant novel,’ but he clearly does not understand that a troubled
boy’s life cannot be called a
story.  Not only, his contention that, ‘There is nothing wrong with him
that a little understanding
and affection, preferably from his parents, couldn't have set right,’
is absolutely demeaning and
wrong.  Holden is a very troubled boy.  Holden has been different from
Dale Bartholomew, Allie,
Phoebe, and Viola since birth, if you understand my point.  We have
always been loving and
supportive, Mr. Burger – your assault and threats are heart-crushing. 
We know Holden more
than you do.

I urge you to leave him be, please.  We can’t walk to the grocery store
any longer without
attracting a mob.  Holden is going to be attending a special school in
the fall and we would like
him to adjust to the social climate without any fanfare.  He dreams of
moving in with D.B. to
‘scribble with the big-shots,’ but you must understand that he is bound
to get hurt again.

Our family would like to go on living a normal life.  Your publication
of reviews that claim
Holden as their own has robbed us of this life.  We will take care of
him, trust those who know. 
Please discontinue any publication of reference to Holden.  Leave us
be, please, we need to
reclaim our peace.

Sincerely,

Aaron Caulfield


(c) 1999, Jordie Chambers

PS, I just wrote this this morning, want to send it to the New Yorker,
does anyone know the address of the Arts Department?
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