<<Indeed, it is not. But that is not important. Relevant is only the fact that a writer, or any artist, or someone cleaning shoes in Calcutta (who knows?) gives his interpretation and ideas about these things. It's *these things* (feelings, etc.) that are universal, NOT the ideas that are attached to it by the (any) artist itself ! They may BECOME universal, though, like (in my view) Salinger's and Shakespeare's. On the other hand, they may not, like (I hope) Marx's. Only time will tell whether these ideas will stand the "test of time". Arne>> Allright, let's talk about what we are REALLY talking about instead of spouting retorts in the wrong direction. We are talking about literature, and Salinger's place in it. Now, we're talking specifically about Salinger's place in the Western Canon--namely, whether future generations will be required to read him alongside of Hawthorne and, say, Crane in their Am Lit 2 classes. This isn't about literature as a universal phenomena. We don't know what people are reading in other parts of the universe. This isn't even about literature as a worldwide phenomenon, because authors that are well-known to us may be relatively unknown in, say, China or parts of the Soviet Union. So, what will Salinger's place in liteature be? Give me a hundred years or so to think about it and I'll point you toward an answer. It's too early to tell now. I think he has earned an important place, tho. jim _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]