Catch-22

[Waterwolf]

Which came first, the book or the saying?

[larabell]

It's a US military term - already in use when when Heller published the novel of the same name in 1961. However it really only became a commonly known phrase to the civilian public after the novel's publication.

[artisan]

I thought the book was originally to be called Catch 19 ?

[Ginbottle]

Originally it was going to be called "Catch 18" but the publisher already had a book in the same year with "18" in the title.

[babthrower]

Ah, and I heard it was originally Catch-17, but Stalag17 was just about to be released, so the publisher said, good idea for a title, but pick another number. So regardless of what the original number was, the fact that Heller picked 22 pretty well makes it obvious that he originated the expression, and the military and others quickly picked it up. Heller, like Professor Peter of the Peter Principle, had discovered a natural law.

[jimi]

Thanks guys!!!!