"Catch-22" is a satirical novel written by Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The book is set during World War II and follows the experiences of Captain John Yossarian, an American bombardier stationed on a fictional Mediterranean island. The title refers to a paradoxical military regulation that states if a pilot requests a mental evaluation to avoid dangerous missions, they are deemed sane, but their desire to avoid danger proves their sanity, thus trapping them in a cycle of illogical reasoning. The novel explores the absurdity and bureaucracy of war, highlighting the struggles and moral dilemmas faced by the characters. Through dark humor and sharp wit, Heller critiques the dehumanizing effects of war and the illogical systems that perpetuate it.

Catch 22, l'Article 22, est un « attrape-nigaud » qui permet à un colonel américain d'imposer un nombre de missions sans cesse croissant à son escadrille de bombardement basée dans une petite île de la Méditerranée pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale... Yossaran, héros tragi-comique de cette épopée burlesque, est décidé à tout tenter pour sauver sa peau : il estime que sa seule mission, quand il s'envole, consiste à atterrir vivant. Simuler la folie dans cet univers délirant lui paraît le meilleur moyen de tirer au flanc. Hélas, l'Article 22 stipule : « Quiconque veut se dispenser d'aller au feu n'est pas réellement fou. » Cette première oeuvre de Joseph Heller compte parmi les meilleurs romans américains de l'après-guerre. Joseph Heller, mort en 1999 à l'âge de 76 ans, a publié Catch 22 en 1961. Le livre a été un triomphe immédiat, en particulier auprès de la jeunesse des campus américains qui y a reconnu une charge contre la guerre du Vietnam. Au cinéma, il y a eu M.A.S.H., dans le roman, Catch 22.

*A darkly comic masterpiece about war, bureaucracy, and the absurdity of trying to stay sane in a world gone mad.* Set during World War II, _Catch-22_ follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier stationed on a Mediterranean island. His mission: fly more bombing runs. His problem: the military command keeps raising the number of missions required to go home. The only way out is to prove you're insane. But here's the catch - if you apply to be grounded for being crazy, you're clearly sane enough to fly. This is Catch-22. Joseph Heller's groundbreaking novel blends razor-sharp satire with unforgettable characters and breakneck humor. It's a story that skewers military red tape, blind authority, and the logic of war itself. Equal parts hilarious and haunting, _Catch-22_ became an instant classic and remains one of the most influential novels of the 20th century. *Why readers keep coming back:* - A landmark of American satire and dark humor - Brilliantly chaotic narrative structure that mirrors the madness of war - Timeless critique of bureaucracy and power - Recognized by Time, The Modern Library, and countless readers as a must-read classic If you like your humor black, your plot twisted, and your truth delivered with a punch, _Catch-22_ is for you.