The huge success of The Catcher in the Rye (1951) brought JD Salinger (1919–2010) lasting fame. But the attention made him increasingly reclusive and, though he never stopped writing, he published his last story in 1965. This companion to a 2013 documentary, co-written by its director, is an 'oral biography' that reveals the man inside the mystery by presenting the recollections of relatives, lovers, friends and colleagues in their own words, together with Salinger's private letters and more than 175 photos.