Summary of Catch-22
Captain John Yossarian is a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier during the Second World War, stationed at the American airbase on Pianosa, a small Italian island, south of Elba. An anti-hero determined to survive the war at all costs, Yossarian would much rather avoid combat than risk his life in a war he finds increasingly senseless. The novel features a host of absurd yet memorable characters, including Chaplain Tappman, Colonel Cathcart, Doc Daneeka, Major Major, Lieutenant Scheisskopf and the entrepreneurial mess officer Milo Minderbinder. Together they inhabit a world that is both comical and deeply cruel.
Reasons to read Catch-22
“Catch-22” is a satirical anti-war novel exposing the absurdities and bureaucratic madness of military life. It is widely regarded as a classic of twentieth-century American literature. Published in 1961, it was Joseph Heller’s debut novel, partly inspired by his own wartime experiences. The book became immensely popular during the 1960s, particularly among young people opposed to the Vietnam War. The novel introduced the term “catch-22” into the English language, now used to describe a paradoxical situation involving contradictory rules that make escape impossible. Other notable works by Heller include “Something Happened” and “Closing Time” (a sequel to “Catch-22”).
Setting: Pianosa, Tuscany (Italy)
Catch-22 is mainly set on Pianosa, a small island in the Tuscan Archipelago (Italy), with bombing missions primarily over mainland Italy, including Bologna. Browse books set in Northern Italy.
Original title: Catch-22
Year of publication: 1961
Nr of pages: 544
