Salinger's story and career raise a lot of questions and ideas about the nature of fame in America / the west.

A lot of artists don't have their work appreciated until after they die, so it must be overwhelming to have interest growing in one (or several) of your works at an exponential rate in front of your eyes while you are still alive, letalone when you are young, or at the start of your career.

Salinger's story in particular reminds of me Bill Watterson, of Calvin and Hobbes fame. Guy does his thing, ends public access to it, and then withdraws from public life. Watterson's exit seems to have been accompanied by the idea (discussed in occasional rare interviews he granted) that he had said everything he wanted to say, and left before he outstayed his welcome.

There has to be the thought in these guys' heads that they can't possibly equal this success again, so why even try. Everything after these huge successes would just be anticlimactic, so they just cower away. In my view, I guess this is better than being over-exposed, or releasing junk art because of contractual obligations with a studio or distributor.