Joseph Heller Quotes

A collection of quotes by Joseph Heller.

Joseph Heller was an American author, best known for his satirical novel "Catch-22," which became a classic of American literature. Born on May 1, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York, Heller grew up in a working-class Jewish family during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as a bombardier in Italy. His experiences in the military deeply influenced his writing.

After the war, Heller attended college under the G.I. Bill, earning a degree in English from the University of Southern California and later a Master's in English from Columbia University. He began his writing career as an advertising copywriter and magazine editor before devoting himself full-time to writing fiction.

Heller's breakthrough came in 1961 with the publication of "Catch-22," a darkly comedic and anti-war novel that satirized the bureaucracy and absurdity of military life. The book earned critical acclaim and gained a devoted following, eventually becoming an American literary classic. Heller went on to write several more novels, including "Something Happened," "Good as Gold," and "Closing Time," which served as a sequel to "Catch-22."

Throughout his career, Heller received numerous awards and accolades for his writing, including the National Book Award for Fiction in 1981. He was esteemed for his distinctive wit and acerbic humor, which he used to shed light on the complexities and contradictions of human existence. Joseph Heller passed away on December 12, 1999, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to captivate readers today.