Catch-22
By Joseph Heller
- Release Date: 2010-10-26
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction; critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos; and much more.
Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.
Now a Hulu limited series starring Christopher Abbott, George Clooney, Kyle Chandler, and Hugh Laurie.
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.
Reviews
Meh
1By Crucifiction machinePoor character development. Poor plot. The last time it took me this long to read a book was “Moby Dick”. I had to force myself to finish it. The subversion and criticism of authority figures was the best part.Evil pricing
2By frizzzogGreat novel evil pricingMust read, but ridiculous price
1By hottake365mayihaveanotherFavorite book all time but this is absurdCatch 22
2By mmginfloridaA bit pricey, don’t you think?TRUE CLASSIC
5By Prophet AmosA cannot miss read, a true classic. It has it all.Outstanding piece of American Lit but,
5By DJ Texas Pete 90.5the price on the ebook is way to high. If it has special features like interviews with Heller or something like that, then the price tag may be justified. Otherwise save your money and support your local library.$13?
2By G123321123Why the hell do you have to make this book $13 it doesn’t cost you anything.WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!
1By MissyMay763890Shame, Shame, shameBeautifully insane
5By Slayer Fan 911This book mixes horror and humor into a book of great purpose and feeling.Satire at its best!
5By I'MGONNAWRECKIT!!This is one of my all-time favorite novels. I read it back in high school and ended up using it as source material in a college research paper on Vietnam War sentiment and literature, and yet I still go back to re-read this every five years or so (I don't re-read many books). Entertaining, a little disturbing at times, and very memorable.