July 19, 1957

Dear Mr. Herbert,

I'll try to tell you what my attitude is to the stage and screen rights of The Catcher in the Rye. I've sung this tune quite a few times, so if my heart doesn't seem to be in it, try to be tolerant....Firstly, it is possible that one day the rights will be sold. Since there's an ever-looming possibility that I won't die rich, I toy very seriously with the idea of leaving the unsold rights to my wife and daughter as a kind of insurance policy. It pleasures me no end, though, I might quickly add, to know that I won't have to see the results of the transaction (...)

Thank you, though, for your friendly and highly readable letter. My mail from producers has mostly been hell.

Sincerely,

J. D. Salinger

"If there's one thing I hate, it's the movies. Don't even mention them to me." Holden Caulfield