Joseph Heller Libri

Fifty years after its original publication, Catch-22 remains a cornerstone of American literature and one of the funniest—and most celebrated—books of all time. In recent years it has been named to “best novels” lists by Time, Newsweek, the Modern Library, and the London Observer. Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction by Christopher Buckley; a wealth of critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos from Joseph Heller’s personal archive; and much more. Here, at last, is the definitive edition of a classic of world literature.

Features a satirical indicement of military madness and stupidity, and the desire of the ordinary man to survive it. This work tells a tale of the dangerously sane Captain Yossarian, who spends his time in Italy plotting to survive.

Joseph Heller's powerful, wonderfully funny, deeply moving novel is the story of David -- yes, King David -- but as you've never seen him before. You already know David as the legendary warrior king of Israel, husband of Bathsheba, and father of Solomon; now meet David as he really the cocky Jewish kid, the plagiarized poet, and the Jewish father. Listen as David tells his own story, a story both relentlessly ancient and surprisingly modern, about growing up and growing old, about men and women, and about man and God. It is quintessential Heller.

Conjured back to life by Rembrandt's famous "Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer," Aristotle surveys history and profiles historical personalities, ultimately concluding that not much as changed in 2,500 years

The demented Army Air Force of Catch-22, the lethal business world of Something Happened, and the dysfunctional family of Good as Gold are rooted in Joseph Heller's past. Over thirty-five years after Catch-22's explosion into the world, Heller shares his life story. He recounts his Coney Island childhood during the Depression, growing up in a fatherless family yet enjoying life on the boardwalk, in the ocean, and in school. His journey includes various jobs, from delivering telegrams to working in a navy yard, leading to his service in the air force during World War II. After the war, he attended college thanks to the G.I. Bill, pursued teaching, and ventured into Madison Avenue, all while continuously writing. The success of Catch-22 marked the beginning of a remarkable literary career. The strengths of this memoir lie in the energy, humor, and mischief characteristic of Heller's work, alongside the dark undertones that accompany them. He vividly recalls a Coney Island that symbolizes fun and a seemingly golden age of innocence. For the first time, he discusses the people and events that inspired memorable characters and scenes in his writing. This memoir offers both an account of a remarkable life and insight into the creative process of a major American writer.

The previously uncollected writings of Joseph Heller, including hitherto unpublished stories, lost chapters from CATCH-22 and further tales from that novel's unforgettable 'hero', Yossarian.

This is Joseph Heller's first novel since Catch-22, which was published in 1961 and has become the most celebrated novel of its decade — speaking for and to an entire American generation. Something Happened is different from Catch-22 in both substance and tone, but it is certain to have a comparable effect. * * * As it opens, he "gets the willies." At the end, he has "taken command." What happens in Something Happened happens to Bob Slocum — in his forties, contending with his office (where just about everybody is scared of somebody), trying to come to grips with his wife ("You did it," she says. "You made me this way. ..."), with his daughter (she's "unhappy"), with his son (he's "having difficulties"), and with his other son, and with his own past and his own present. Like his own children, like all children, Slocum once was new, valuable, eagerly waiting to grow into the good life sure to come. Now he is what he is, and his life is what it is. What happened? (What happens?) Something.

Bruce Gold, a middle-aged, Jewish professor of English literature, finds himself on the brink of a golden career in politics -- and not a moment too soon, as Gold yearns for an opportunity to transform a less-than-picture-perfect life: His children think little of him, his intimidating father endlessly bullies him, and his wife is so oblivious that she doesn't even notice he's left her. As funny as it is sad, Good as Gold is a story of children grown up, parents grown old, and friends and lovers grown apart -- a story that is inimitably Heller.