Understanding Joseph Heller

This is a critical survey of the complete body of work by the author of
Catch-22 . In this revised edition, Sanford Pinsker explores the idiosyncratic vision that permeates Heller’s writings, as he maps the dark terrain Heller carved out, novel by novel, with considerable verbal dazzle and the uncompromising outrage of the classical satirist. This updated edition includes new chapters on Closing Time, the sequel to
Catch-22 ;
Now and Then , Heller’s memoir of growing up in Brooklyn; Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man, his posthumously published novel; and
Catch as Catch Can , a collection of assorted short stories and sketches.