JD Salinger's hideaway: Cabin in the New Hampshire woods where famously reclusive author once lived hits the market for $679K

By Associated Press and Margot Peppers For Mailonline

Published: 17:43 EST, 14 August 2014 | Updated: 12:34 EST, 15 August 2014

A former home of The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger is up for sale in New Hampshire with an asking price of $679,000.

The Valley News reports that the famously reclusive author bought the home in Cornish in the 1950s and left after separating from his first wife. He remained in Cornish, where he died in 2010 at age 91.

The current owner bought the 2,900-square-foot home on 12 acres in the 1980s. The land once belonged to sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and a descendant of his built the house in 1939.

A piece of literary history: A former home of The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger is up for sale in Cornish, New Hampshire, with an asking price of $679,000

Simple life: The famously reclusive author bought the home in Cornish in the 1950s and left after separating from his first wife. He remained in Cornish, where he died in 2010 at age 91

The real estate posting says the house is 'set in an enchanting garden of flowers and trees. Land on both sides of the road ensures privacy.'

It has views of Mount Ascutney, with trails, woods and garden spots 'to sit and dream.'

A photo of the living room shows just how modestly Salinger lived, despite the immense success of his works.

The room features a barn-like slanted roof, exposed beams, wood paneled ceilings and simple, rustic decor. Low, slanted ceilings in another smaller room give the place a secretive feel.

Escape: In 1953, as the notoriety of The Catcher in the Rye grew, Salinger (pictured in 1951) moved from his apartment in Manhattan to the secluded home

In 1953, as the notoriety of The Catcher in the Rye grew, Salinger - known as 'Jerry' to those who knew him - moved to the secluded home from his apartment at 300 57th Street in Manhattan.

The author was reportedly involved in the Cornish community in his first few years of living there.

According to a 2010 New York Times article, he would frequently socialize with students from the local Windsor High School.

He also regularly attended the $12 roast beef dinners at First Congregational Church in nearby Hartland, Vermont, where he would sit at the head of the table and 'would not speak'.

Salinger became increasingly guarded about his private life, however. According to The Rumpus, he once agreed to an interview with a high school student named Shirley Blaney about Catcher in the Rye.

After the interview appeared in the local newspaper instead of the high school circular, however, he was outraged. It was at this point that he reportedly began building a large fence around his home.

For the most part, the townspeople did their best to uphold Salinger's expectations of privacy.

'Nobody conspired to keep his privacy, but everyone kept his privacy - otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed here all these years,' Sherry Boudro of nearby Windsor, Vermont, told the New York Times.

Secluded: Photos of the interior show just how modestly Salinger lived, despite the immense success of his works

Recluse: Salinger was reportedly relatively active in the Cornish community when he first moved there, and would frequently socialize with local high school students, until his desire for privacy deepened

'This community saw him as a person, not just the author of The Catcher in the Rye. They respect him. He was an individual who just wanted to live his life.'

Their allegiance with the author allegedly went so far that when curious visitors came to the town in search of a glimpse of him, they would steer them in the wrong direction, sending them on a wild goose chase.

In the words of Mike Ackerman, owner of the Cornish General Store, Salinger 'was like the Batman icon. Everyone knew Batman existed, and everyone knows there's a Batcave, but no one will tell you where it is.'

One of us: 'This community saw him as a person, not just the author of The Catcher in the Rye. They respect him. He was an individual who just wanted to live his life,' said a local who knew him

Sighting: Townspeople said he regularly attended the $12 roast beef dinners at First Congregational Church in nearby Hartland, Vermont, where he would sit at the head of the table and 'would not speak'

Salinger had two children, a daughter Margaret and a son Matthew, with his wife Claire Douglas, whom he married in 1955.

The pair separated in 1967, and Salinger went on to marry Colleen O'Neill, a nurse and quiltmaker who was 40 years his junior, in the Eighties.

Salinger published a short story called Hapworth 16, 1924, in a 1965 issue of the New Yorker. It was to be the last of his works published in his lifetime.

But his legacy continues to be a topic of intrigue in the literary world; according to a 2013 biography by David Shields and Shane Salerno, Salinger apparently left instructions for several of his unpublished works to be released between 2015 and 2020.

In December 2013, three of the stories - The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls, Birthday Boy and Paula - were leaked online in a PDF file uploaded to eBay.

Idyllic: The real estate posting says the house is 'set in an enchanting garden of flowers and trees.' It has views of Mount Ascutney, with trails, woods and garden spots 'to sit and dream'

Mystery: Salinger's legacy continues to be a topic of intrigue in the literary world, with frequent speculation regarding how many unpublished works he left behind

Salinger had donated these stories to Princeton University under the instructions that they only be read under supervision.

According to his will, he did not intend them be published until January 27, 2060, at the earliest, and dedicated fans have undoubtedly grappled with their simultaneous desire to read the works while yearning to respect his wishes.

The writer himself made it very clear how he felt on the topic. 'There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It's peaceful. Still,' he said in a 1974 interview.

'Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure.'

Comments (21)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

Enter your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Submit Comment Clear

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now