Joseph Heller was a Coney Island kid, the son of Russian immigrants, and a military veteran whose experiences flying missions over France during World War II would become the inspiration for an American classic, Catch-22. When he passed away in 1999, Heller left behind a body of work, including the novels Something Happened and Good as Gold, that remain in print.

Just One Catch is the first major biography of Yossarian’s creator, written with full cooperation from Heller’s estate.

Author Tracy Daugherty is distinguished professor of English and creative writing at Oregon State University.