For Esme, with Love and Squalor

A close friend introduced me to this author when we were teens. Now that I have the means, I'm collecting Salinger's works in hardback. Looking forward to reading them again.

I am slowly replacing old books that were falling apart. J. D. Salinger has always been one of my favorite authors. This book will help towards completing my collection. Very happy!

Great book!

Many of the reviewers here claim that "For Esmé - with Love and Squalor: And Other Stories" is merely a retitled version of "Nine Stories." It may be the same book but to say that it was retitled is a little misleading. The book was originally published as "Nine Stories" in the U.S., but was published as "For Esmé - with Love and Squalor: And Other Stories" in the U.K. and many other countries.

WHEN THE SHORT STORY "FOR ESME WITH LOVE AND SQUALOR" FIRST CAME OUT, JUST AFTER WWII, IT WAS VERY POPULAR AND SALINGER RECEIVED MANY LETTERS AND ACCOLADES.BECAUSE OF THIS POPULARITY, "NINE STORIES" WAS RETITLED "FOR ESME WITH LOVE AND SQUALOR.""FOR ESME WITH LOVE AND SQUALOR" IS A TIMELESS STORY.IT IS A COMING OF AGE STORY, AS WELL AS A STORY OF LONELINESS AND COMPANIONSHIP; BOTH THE NARRATOR'S LONELINESS, WHICH FINDS HIM ALONE STROLLING THE TOWN AND ENTERING THE CHURCH TO HEAR THE CHILDREN'S CHOIR PRACTICE, AS WELL AS ESME'S, WHICH MAY BE THE REASON SHE APPROACHES THE AMERICAN (THE NARRATOR) IN THE TEA ROOM, ALTHOUGH SHE STATES IT IS FOR HIS BENEFIT.IN THE FINAL FEW PARAGRAPHS OF THE STORY, WE FIND THAT ESME'S ACT OF CHARITY ( THE GIFT OF HER FATHER'S WATCH,) CHANGES THE NARRATOR'S (SERGEANT X'S) LIFE MORE THAN SHE COULD EVER IMAGINE.GOODNESS ALWAYS CHANGES THINGS FOR THE BETTER.THOSE OF YOU WHO ENJOY LITERATURE WILL FIND THIS SHORT STORY AS COMPELLING NOW AS WHEN IT WAS FIRST WRITTEN.THANK YOU.

This is exactly the same book as Nine Stories, which was on the same order! I did not understand this - I don't think many people would.

When I bought this book I thought I was getting the copy with the cover pictured, but it was a different cover. Disappointed.

This is “Nine Stories” renamed.

Beautifully written and hilarious.

Perfect value for price!

Glittering, sharp, short stories which live in their dialogue, aided and abetted by brief descriptions of clothing and furniture - barely a word about what people look like, except to say that they are 'attractive' or perhaps 'sturdy'.Contemporary creative studies tutors would - in theory - abhor this sort of 'telling', though the characterisation in conversation would win high plaudits.It is remarkable - to me at least - how similar the sparkling, brittle writing style of Salinger (1919-2010) in these stories is to that of his much older, fellow American, Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940). Most of Salinger's stories in this late, excellent collection are concerned with rich and intelligent Americans - apparently the same world as that of Fitzgerald. However, Salinger is not focused on the love travails of 'bright young things', but instead is obsessed with adults encountering shockingly aware, truth-telling children (as in his too-famous Catcher in the Rye).But - in stark contrast to the Lolita of Nabokov (1899-1977) - Salinger's children are precociously adult without any sense of sexuality. This is a strength and also a weakness.Nevertheless, some of these beautifully exact stories - such as the opening 'A perfect day for bananafish' - must rank among the most concise and evocative short tales ever told.

Thanks!

This is probably the best of J.D. Salinger's writing. He had a reputation for being prickly - who wouldn't be when one's peace is constantly invaded by snoopers? He said if you wanted to know who he was as a man, read his work These stories are not long, but will benefit from several readings as the heart of each story reveals itself more with each read. Deeply feeling and tender - his delightful portrayal of children, the sorrows of young adults who have taken wrong turns, the desperation of those wounded in the soul - these stories are simply wonderful. If you have read his archived early work from the 1940s, this collections shows a striking change of focus and ability as a writer. I first read "The Catcher in the Rye" and "Franny and Zooey" in the 1970s and recently re-read them. This collection is a first for me and a book I would take to my desert island.