Joseph Heller (1923–1999)

Joseph Heller was an American novelist and playwright best known for his satirical war novel *Catch-22* (1961). Born in Brooklyn, New York, Heller served as a bombardier in World War II, an experience that heavily influenced his writing. His works often explore the absurdity of bureaucracy, the futility of war, and the irrationality of modern life through dark humor and irony.

Catch-22 (1961)

*Catch-22* is a satirical anti-war novel set during World War II, following Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier trying to survive the madness of war. The term "Catch-22" refers to a paradoxical military rule: A soldier can be declared insane and thus unfit to fly dangerous missions—but requesting to be grounded for insanity proves sanity, meaning the request is denied. The novel critiques the illogical and dehumanizing nature of war, military bureaucracy, and capitalist greed.

Black Humor 

Black humor is a literary and comedic style that finds humor in bleak, tragic, or absurd situations—often involving death, war, or existential despair. It uses irony, satire, and grotesque exaggeration to highlight the irrationality of life. In *Catch-22*, Heller employs black humor to expose the horrors of war through absurdity, making the reader laugh while confronting disturbing truths.

Selected Reading: pp.312-320.