James Carroll (author) facts for kids

James Carroll (born January 22, 1943) is an American author, historian, and journalist. He used to be a Catholic priest. He has written many books and articles about the Catholic Church and its history, as well as novels. He has received several special awards and is a respected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Early Life and Education

James Carroll was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was one of five sons. His father, Joseph F. Carroll, worked for the FBI and later became a general in the United States Air Force. Because of his father's job, James grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and also lived in Germany.

He went to school in Washington and Germany. After high school, he attended Georgetown University. Later, he went to St. Paul's College, which is a special school called a seminary where people study to become priests. There, he earned his college degrees.

Becoming a Writer

In 1969, James Carroll became a Catholic priest. He worked as a chaplain at Boston University from 1969 to 1974. A chaplain is a priest who helps students and staff at a university. During this time, he also studied poetry and started writing books about religion and a book of poems.

He wrote a regular column for a newspaper called the National Catholic Reporter. He was even named the Best Columnist by the Catholic Press Association. He also spoke out against the Vietnam War. For his efforts, he received the first Thomas Merton Award in 1972. In 1974, James Carroll decided to leave the priesthood to focus on being a full-time writer.

His Books and Awards

James Carroll has written many books, including novels and non-fiction works. His first novel, Madonna Red, was published in 1976. He has written for famous magazines like The New Yorker and The Atlantic. For 23 years, he wrote a weekly opinion column for The Boston Globe newspaper.

In 1996, he won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for his book An American Requiem. This book was about the Vietnam War and his relationships with his father, the military, and the Catholic Church. Another important book he wrote is House of War: The Pentagon and the Disastrous Rise of American Power. This book won the first PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for non-fiction.

Some of his novels, like Prince of Peace and Mortal Friends, became New York Times bestsellers. This means they were very popular and sold many copies. His book of poems, Forbidden Disappointments, was also praised by critics.

James Carroll has also been a visiting scholar and professor at several universities, including Harvard University and Brandeis University. He has shared his knowledge and writing skills with students and other scholars.

A Special Book: Constantine's Sword

One of James Carroll's most well-known books is Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, published in 2001. In this book, he explores the long history of how some Christian ideas led to unfair treatment and negative views of Jewish people. He discusses how this history played a part in later events, including the Holocaust.

Constantine's Sword became a New York Times bestseller. It won several awards, including the National Jewish Book Award, for its important look at this topic. Some people, especially those from Jewish communities, see it as a very important study of Christian anti-Semitism.

However, some other people, especially from Catholic groups, had different opinions and criticized the book. In 2007, James Carroll also helped create a documentary film based on his book, also called Constantine's Sword.

Family Life

James Carroll is married to the novelist Alexandra Marshall. They got married in 1977 and have two grown children.

See also

In Spanish: James Carroll para niños

• Baruch Plan