James Carroll (author) facts for kids

James Carroll (born January 22, 1943) is an American writer, historian, and journalist. He used to be a Catholic priest. He has written many books, including novels and books about history and religion. He is known for writing about ways to improve the Catholic Church. He has also received many special awards and honors for his work.

Early Life and Becoming a Priest

James Carroll was born in Chicago. He was the second of five sons. His father, Joseph F. Carroll, was a general in the U.S. Air Force. Because of his father's work, James grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and also in Germany.

He went to school in Washington and in Wiesbaden, Germany. Later, he attended Georgetown University. He then went to St. Paul's College, which is a special school for people who want to become priests. There, he earned his college degrees.

Serving as a Priest

In 1969, James Carroll became a Catholic priest. From 1969 to 1974, he worked as a Catholic chaplain at Boston University. During this time, he also studied poetry and wrote books about religious topics. He wrote a column for a newspaper called National Catholic Reporter. He was even named the Best Columnist by the Catholic Press Association.

He spoke out against the Vietnam War through his writing. For this, he received the first Thomas Merton Award in 1972. In 1974, James Carroll decided to leave the priesthood to focus on being a writer.

Writing Career and Major Works

James Carroll has written many plays that have been performed in theaters. In 1976, he published his first novel, Madonna Red. He has since written ten more novels. His articles have appeared in famous magazines like The New Yorker and The Atlantic. For 23 years, he wrote a weekly column for The Boston Globe newspaper.

Award-Winning Books

In 1996, he won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. This was for his book An American Requiem: God, My Father, and the War That Came Between Us. This book was a memoir, which is a true story about his own life. It explored his experiences during 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, Mortal Friends, and Family Trade, became bestsellers. His books The City Below and Secret Father were also recognized as notable books by the New York Times.

Academic and Public Roles

James Carroll has been a visiting scholar at several universities, including Harvard University and Brandeis University. He has also been a trustee for the Boston Public Library. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is a group that honors smart and talented people. He worked on his book House of War while he was a scholar at the Academy.

Constantine's Sword

In 2001, James Carroll wrote a book called Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews. This book is a history of Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism, and how it has treated Jewish people over time. In the book, he discusses how some Christian ideas led to negative views of Jewish people. He argues that this played a part in the rise of anti-Semitism and even the Holocaust.

Constantine's Sword became a New York Times bestseller. Many Jewish organizations consider it an important book about Christian anti-Semitism. It won several awards, including the National Jewish Book Award.

However, some Catholic groups have criticized the book. They include writers from publications like the New York Review of Books and National Review.

In 2007, James Carroll helped create a documentary film based on his book, also called Constantine's Sword. The New York Times named it a "Critics' Pick."

Ideas for Church Change

In 2019, James Carroll wrote an article for The Atlantic magazine. In this article, he discussed the problems within the Catholic Church. He suggested that the Church should change its structure to give more power back to the people. He continued this idea in his 2021 memoir, The Truth at the Heart of the Lie: How the Catholic Church Lost Its Soul.

Family Life

James Carroll married Alexandra Marshall, who is also a novelist, in 1977. They have two adult children.

See also

In Spanish: James Carroll para niños

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