J. D. Salinger_ A Life - Kenneth Slawenski [228]
The inevitable subject that piqued the highest level of interest was the mystery surrounding the volumes of works that Salinger had reportedly produced since 1965. The secret literary contents of his safe became a constant source of speculation fueled by media allegations that he had completed at least fifteen full-length novels. Even Stephen King commented that the world might finally learn the truth of whether Salinger had been amassing great masterpieces over the years. The literary world held its breath in anticipation.
Meanwhile, from Cornish, there was only silence. Four days had passed since Salinger’s death, and though memorials continued to appear in the press, nothing had been heard from the family since Westberg’s initial announcement. At the time she had requested that the same level of respect and privacy afforded to Salinger now be granted to his family. Consequently, there had been no word regarding the time, place or manner of Salinger’s burial or cremation, the contents of his will, or the marvels of his safe.
On February 1, America honored the author when Salinger’s portrait was placed by the Smithsonian Institution on public display in the National Portrait Gallery. Such an honor would have been unthinkable in Salinger’s lifetime but the admiration restrained for half of a century had now impatiently burst free.
The outpouring of grief was ironic. It is likely that Salinger would have turned his back on the honors showered on his memory, as he had shunned attention when alive. Yet his death had at least one positive effect upon the population that he doubtless would have genuinely enjoyed. In his honor, people began to read his books with newfound appreciation and in unparalleled numbers. Within two days of Salinger’s passing, The Catcher in the Rye had become the number five best-selling book in the nation—a notch below the highest position it had attained in 1951. Amazon.com, the largest seller of books in the world, depleted its stock not only of The Catcher in the Rye but also of Nine Stories, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High and Seymour. It then admitted that the books were presently unobtainable. America had sold out of Salinger.
As Salinger was being laid to rest in whatever manner his family saw fit, a remarkable thing began to happen, a series of small, singular events that collectively eclipsed all other efforts to honor his memory. Slowly at first but with increasing frequency, the Internet began to populate with short impromptu home videos posted by ordinary individuals. First there was one, a single brave soul not caring how he looked through the eyes of the camera, unconcerned whether his profile was flattering or his hair disheveled. Within a day there were hundreds of such films. In two days, the number reached a thousand. All were average people—mostly young—unself-consciously aiming their faces into the camera and beginning to speak regardless of whether they would be witnessed by millions or by absolutely no one. They spoke of Salinger. They spoke of what he had meant to them, of what he had given them. They felt an overwhelming need to tell the world that his writings had touched their lives and they would miss him.
Then, as if by a conspiracy of mass intuition, the same spontaneous reaction occurred on nearly every video. Each person in front of the camera picked up a book and began to read aloud. They read from Franny and Zooey. They read from “Seymour—an