Catch-22 is a satirical novel by the American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953; first published in 1961. It is frequently cited as one of the greatest literary works of the Twentieth Century. It uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate storylines are presented out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot.
The novel is set during World War II from 1942-1944. It mainly follows the life of Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa in the Mediterranean Sea west of Italy. The novel looks into the experiences of Yossarian and the other airmen in the camp, who attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so they may return home.
