Now and Then

Joseph Heller takes us on a fascinating journey back to his upbringing in a poor, predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in Coney Island through his World War II experiences as a bombardier in the American Air Force based in Italy to his current life as an internationally acclaimed author. He tells of his tough upbringing during the Depression, and how much affection he has for the kitsch, ragged, down market Coney Island where the Jewish community felt totally secure with everyone helping each other out. He visits his first whorehouse during the war and describes, in intimate detail, his first love Luciana and for the first time he writes about the people and events, both tragic and hilarious, he was to translate, in CATCH-22, into such memorable characters as Milo Minderbinder, The Chaplain, Major Major Major Major and, of course, Yossarian.