'Catcher in the Rye' Sequel Prompts J.D. Salinger to Sue Author

by Blaine Metzgar | June 2, 2009 at 08:51 am

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J.D. Salinger, the 90 year-old infamously reclusive author, is suing the author of an unauthorized sequel to his novel The Catcher in the Rye. 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye by the pseudonymous John David California is the alleged unauthorized sequel and is dedicated to Salinger.

The reclusive 90-year-old writer claims that 60 Years Later: Coming Through The Rye infringes his copyright, and is suing for damages from its author and publishers.

His lawyers filed a lawsuit in the federal court in Manhattan yesterday, claiming that the book is a copycat. Its unknown author is listed as John Doe, and Nicotext, its Swedish publisher, Windupbird Publishing, based in London, and SCB Distributors, based in California, are cited as the co-defendants.

The lawsuit says that only Salinger has the right to use the character Holden Caulfield and to create a sequel, and that he has "decidedly chosen not to exercise that right".

California called the lawsuit "a little bit insane" and explained that he "did not mean to cause him [Salinger] any trouble." 60 Year's Later uses the same characters as the original 1951 novel and follows a similar writing style; California acknowledged both notions but asserted that while Salinger may control the rights of the names and character's he has no control over his style.

Salinger has been involved in a number of infiringement lawsuits and has yet to appear in court for any, he is not expected to make an appearance with this case as well.

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