Catching a Market: The Publishing History ofCatch-22

Abstract

September of 1961 brought welcome relief from the Berlin Crisis in the Oform of two distinctly American recreations: the World Series and the fall book season. As always, both seemed to focus on New York City, and the New York media brought excitement and suspense to fit both seasons: excitement – as Roger Maris attempted to break Babe Ruth's record of sixty home runs – and suspense, as Simon & Schuster ran eye-catching but mysterious ads for a new novel, revealing nothing more than the title –Catch-22. Everyone knew what Maris's quest meant, but no one seemed to know what “CATCH-22” meant.