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Joseph's Birth
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This is the timespan of Joseph Heller's life.
Joseph Heller was the author of Catch-22. Catch-22 was a famous work published after WW2 that became highly successfully and critically praised. This novel offers a different insight on war and the people affected by it. -
High School Graduation
Heller graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. -
Joined the Army Corps
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Sent to the Italian War Front
This is where he flew 60 combat missions as a bombardier. His unit was the 488th Bombardment Squadron, 340th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force -
Going to College
After the war, Heller studied English at the University of Southern California and NYU on the G.I. Bill. -
First Wife
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Was Married to Shirley Held
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First published work
He first published in 1948 when the Atlantic ran one of his short stories. -
Recieved Master's Degree
Got his degree in English from Comlumbia University. -
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Started Learning in England
He moved to England to study at Oxford for two years. -
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Taught Composition
Heller taught composition at Pennsylvania State University for two years. -
His First Vision of Catch-22
While sitting at home one morning in 1953, Heller thought of the lines, "It was love at first sight. The first time he saw the chaplain, [Yossarian] fell madly in love with him." -
First Chapter of Catch-22 Published
The initial chapter was published in 1955 as "Catch-18", in Issue 7 of New World Writing. -
Delievered Catch-22 Draft to be Published
It took nearly a decade of writing it before it was finally completed. -
Catch-22 Was Officially Published in Hardcover
The novel initially had mixed reviews. -
Heller's First Vision of His Novel: Something Happened
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Catch-22 Came Out in Paperback
This is the year when the novel started catching the attentions of Baby Boomers. -
Movie Rights to Catch-22 Purchased
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Wrote a Play Called "We Bombed in New Haven"
Completed writing the play in only 6 weeks. -
Catch-22 Film Finally Released
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Teaching Career at Several Universities
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Something Happened Published
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Diagnosed with Guillain–Barré Syndrome
This left him temporarily paralysed. He was bedridden for a year until transfer to another hospital. -
Returned to St. Catherine's
Heller returned to St. Catherine's as a visiting Fellow, for a term, in 1991 and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the college. -
Transfer to the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
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Was Married to Valerie Humphries
This was his second wife who he was married to up until his death. -
Released a memoir, Now and Then: From Coney Island to Here
He relived his childhood as the son of a deliveryman and offered some details about the inspirations for Catch-22. -
Died From Heart Attack
On hearing of Heller's death, his friend Kurt Vonnegut said, "Oh, God, how terrible. This is a calamity for American literature." -
Final novel, Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man
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Working menial jobs
Heller spent this year working as a blacksmith's apprentice, a messenger boy, and a filing clerk.
