Smith-+Heller


 * Joseph Heller (May 1, 1923- December 12, 1999)

** Born in Brooklyn, NY to first generation Russian-Jewish immigrants Father died when he was 5 years old Worked briefly in an insurance office after graduating high school in 1941 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 Sent to Corsica where he flew 60 combat missions as a bombardier and earned an Air Medal Left the military in 1945 Married and obtained a bachelor’s in English from NYU, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and attended Oxford as a Fulbright Scholar. Taught English at Penn State the following year Post World War II satirist, anti-war Works often present a comic version of modern society especially situations when individuals work with large and powerful institutions, live the military or corporations Wrote several novels and plays Criticized the absurdity of war in //Catch- 22// (1961), considered most influential work- coined the phrase catch 22, for a situation with no easy way out Took part in Vietnam war protests and expressed views in his play //We Bombed in New Haven// (1968) Pulled upon his Jewish heritage in his novel //Good As Gold// (1979) when he wrote about difficulties of being Jewish in a hostile world His different approach to the war novel (one written with some humor and absurdity) preceded other anti- war novels like Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s //Slaughterhouse- Five// (1963) //Catch-22// (1961) //Sex and the Single Girl// (1964) //We Bombed in New Haven// (1967) //Something Happened// (1974) //Good as Gold// (1979) //God Knows// (1984) //Picture This// (1988) //Closing Time// (1994) //Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man// (2000)- published posthumously
 * Biography**
 * Literary Career**
 * Notable Works**

"Joseph Heller Biography - Childhood, Death, School, Book, Old, Information, Born, College, Time, Year." // Encyclopedia of World Biography //. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. .
 * Bibliography**

// Www.kirjasto.sci.fi //. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. .