<P> Catch - 22 is a satirical novel by American author Joseph Heller . He began writing it in 1953 ; the novel was first published in 1961 . Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century , it uses a distinctive non-chronological third - person omniscient narration , describing events from the points of view of different characters . The separate storylines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot . </P>
who wrote catch 22 ( both names )
Joseph Heller