“Seymour, an Introduction” (1959)

[2010 write-up here]

This long piece by J.D. Salinger is generally considered among the least of what he published in book form. Its companion story, “Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters,” gets most of the accolades for the #3 bestselling book in 1963. Fair enough. The complaints about self-indulgence and such are warranted. This is a writer drunk on his own talent and abilities. Formally it is Buddy Glass, oldest surviving boy in the Glass family, but arguably it may be J.D. Salinger perhaps working through his war experience, represented by Seymour’s suicide. When Buddy talks about his published fiction here, it can sound a lot like Salinger’s story “Teddy” and his novel The Catcher in the Rye. But for me, “Seymour, an Introduction” is the point where I fell for Salinger for the second time, after Catcher four or five years earlier when I was 15. At the time I read “Seymour” for the first time I was working nights full-time in a nursing home. On nights off I had to decide whether to readjust to a daytime schedule or just stay up all night and sleep through the days, maintaining continuity. Reading “Seymour” was on the latter schedule, reading all night, and there I was in step with Buddy, who was writing this chronicle at night, sometimes all night, for several nights. I felt right in step with him and loved his surges of energy. But this last time reading it I felt more the sadness that was giving Buddy such headwinds. He’s trying to keep up the brave front, but he’s writing less every night. He’s stuck on giving a physical description of Seymour, which is ultimately so shattered I still have only the vaguest idea of what Seymour looks like—or looks like, as Buddy would put it. It’s sadder and sadder and finally this “introduction” disappears into itself and walks away. I was left thinking the self-indulgence is all Buddy, and none Salinger himself, orchestrating a wallop that sneaks up on you sideways. It’s heartbreaking. It’s more than 10 years since Seymour’s death and Buddy still misses him so keenly he can’t stand it. And neither can I, in sympathy. I really think this may be the best Glass family story we have. UNLESS WE GET TO SEE SOME MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

J.D. Salinger, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour, an Introduction
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