The author of the influential novel "The Catcher in the Rye" is J.D. Salinger. Published in 1951, the novel captured the struggles of teenage alienation and angst through the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Salinger's distinctive narrative voice and exploration of complex themes resonated with a generation of readers. The book's modernist approach, focusing on authenticity and individual experience, laid the groundwork for contemporary adolescent literature. Despite Salinger's later reclusion, "The Catcher in the Rye" remains a seminal work, continuing to inspire discussions about identity and mental health in youth.