"Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" is a short story by J. D. Salinger that appears in his collection Nine Stories.[1] It was originally published in the March 20, 1948 issue of The New Yorker.[2]
The main character, Eloise, struggles to come to terms with the life she has created for herself with her husband Lew. Her true love is the late Walt, who died during his service in the army.
The story's title refers to an event recalled by Eloise in which she and Walt were running to catch a bus, and she sprained her ankle. Walt then said, referring to her ankle in good humor, "Poor Uncle Wiggily...".
The 1949 film My Foolish Heart, based on this story,[3] remains the only authorized adaptation of Salinger's writings into film. Except for a framing story, the picture bears little resemblance to the original.
Although Walt's surname and background are not discussed in the story, Salinger would later reveal that Walt is a member of the Glass family and brother of Seymour Glass, the protagonist of Salinger's previous story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish". Later works by Salinger would elaborate upon the character of Walt Glass from the perspectives of his siblings.