Catch-22
By: Joseph Heller ; introduction by Christopher Buckley
Contributors: Buckley, Christopher, 1952-
Edition: 50th Anniversary ed. ; Simon & Schuster trade pbk. ed.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks
Published: 2011
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 523
ISBN-13: 9781451621174; 9781451626650
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945; Fiction
Other titles: Catch-twenty-two
Description: Fifty years after its original publication, *Catch-22* remains a cornerstone of American literature and one of the funniest—and most celebrated—books of all time. In recent years it has been named to “best novels” lists by *Time*, *Newsweek*, the *Modern Library*, and the *London Observer*.

Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.

This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction by Christopher Buckley; a wealth of critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos from Joseph Heller’s personal archive; and much more. Here, at last, is the definitive edition of a classic of world literature.