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Catch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition

By Joseph Heller
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Catch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition by Joseph Heller is a satirical novel set during World War II, following the experiences of Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Corps B-25 bombardier. It explores the absurdities and contradictions of war through its characters, highlighting the bureaucratic mechanism that makes it impossible for soldiers to escape dangerous service. The narrative criticises the illogical and self-perpetuating rules that entrap the protagonist, showcasing the futility and madness of military life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate dark humour and satire, as it cleverly critiques the absurdities of war and bureaucratic systems. The story's unique narrative and memorable characters provide an engaging reading experience, revealing the paradoxes of human nature and institutional folly. If you enjoy thought-provoking fiction that challenges conventional thinking, this book would be a compelling choice.

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Reading Joseph Heller's classic satire is nothing less than a rite of passage.

Set in the closing months of World War II, this is the story of a bombardier named Yossarian who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him.

50th anniversary of Catch 22's publication. Yossarian lives!

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

50th anniversary of Catch-22's publication. Yossarian lives!

Explosive, subversive, wild and funny, 50 years on the novel's strength is undiminished. Reading Joseph Heller's classic satire is nothing less than a rite of passage.

Set in the closing months of World War II, this is the story of a bombardier named Yossarian who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. His real problem is not the enemy β€” it is his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service.

If Yossarian makes any attempts to excuse himself from the perilous missions then he is caught in Catch-22 β€” if he flies he is crazy, and doesn't have to; but if he doesn't want to he must be sane and has to. That's some catch...

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Catch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition by Joseph Heller is celebrated for its unique blend of humour and pathos, earning both laughter and tears from readers. Esteemed authors like Stephen King and Harper Lee praise its significance and sense-making in depicting war. It is considered a defining war novel, noted for its cynical humour and unmatched style.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099529125

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 June 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 372g

Pages: 544

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About the Author

Joseph Heller was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1923. In 1961, he published Catch-22, which became a bestseller and, in 1970, a film. He went on to write such novels as Something Happened, God Knows, Picture This, Closing Time (the sequel to Catch-22), and Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man. Heller died in December 1999.

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