Catch-22

One of the Great Novels of the Century... "Catch-22" is a satirical, historical novel by the American author Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The novel, set during the later stages of World War II from 1943 onwards, is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the twentieth century. It has a distinctive non-chronological style where events are described from different characters' points of view and out of sequence so that the time line develops along with the plot.

The novel follows Caesarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and a number of other characters. Most events occur while the airmen of the fictional Fighting 256th (or "two to the fighting eighth power") Squadron are based on the island of Pianola, in the Mediterranean Sea west of Italy.

"The greatest satirical work in the English language".
Philip Toynbee

"Blessedly, monstrously, bloatedly, cynically funny, and fantastically unique. No one has ever written a book like this".
Financial Times