This fascinating biography chronicles the life of Dorothy Day, known the world over as the leader of the Catholic Worker Movement. Guided by a strong commitment to social justice and by deep religious ideals, Dorothy Day dedicated her life to the service of others. Deborah Kent here recounts the trials and triumphs of Dorothy Day's life, detailing her role as the founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper, as the founder of numerous "houses of hospitality" that provided food and shelter to the destitute, and as the champion of causes that helped those in need.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10?Born in 1897, Day was a human-rights activist with a nonconformist lifestyle. Earning her living as a journalist, she was an unmarried mother who stood apart by blending radical politics with Christian teachings and spiritual piety. She identified with early feminists and socialists, but unlike Emma Goldman or Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, she could not reconcile viewpoints that rejected religion. An internal struggle ended when she converted to Catholicism and committed herself to the faith that dominated her life's work. The Catholic Workers Movement, founded by Day during the Depression, continues to support community houses in urban slum areas. Written in a simple, spare style that draws from the subject's writings, this account affirms a life of service to the destitute and underprivileged. Black-and-white photographs appear in a 16-page center section. The text compares favorably to Jim O'Grady's Dorothy Day (Ward Hill, 1993), but neither volume measures up to adult biographies in emphasizing her influence on the American Catholic Church. A basic introduction for a generation unfamiliar with this leader for social justice.?Janet Woodward, Franklin High School, Seattle, WA Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 7^-12. Kent expertly distills the drama of Day's life, from her childhood, when she "practiced being a saint," to her death, when she may actually have come close to being one. An honest picture of her life emerges, with Kent including mention of Day's tumultuous youth, abortion, short-lived marriage, brief imprisonment, involvement with Communism and the Catholic Worker Movement, and ultimate reconciliation with God. Day's character flaws are faithfully portrayed, as is the way her fate was inextricably bound to her compassion for the poor. Kent also lends a sense of many fascinating people Day knew--among them, Eugene O'Neill and John Dos Passos--who helped nurture her growing conviction that God was a real presence in her life. A finely detailed biography that evokes the spirit of a woman whose influence continues today. Shelley Townsend-Hudson
Description:
This fascinating biography chronicles the life of Dorothy Day, known the world over as the leader of the Catholic Worker Movement. Guided by a strong commitment to social justice and by deep religious ideals, Dorothy Day dedicated her life to the service of others. Deborah Kent here recounts the trials and triumphs of Dorothy Day's life, detailing her role as the founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper, as the founder of numerous "houses of hospitality" that provided food and shelter to the destitute, and as the champion of causes that helped those in need.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10?Born in 1897, Day was a human-rights activist with a nonconformist lifestyle. Earning her living as a journalist, she was an unmarried mother who stood apart by blending radical politics with Christian teachings and spiritual piety. She identified with early feminists and socialists, but unlike Emma Goldman or Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, she could not reconcile viewpoints that rejected religion. An internal struggle ended when she converted to Catholicism and committed herself to the faith that dominated her life's work. The Catholic Workers Movement, founded by Day during the Depression, continues to support community houses in urban slum areas. Written in a simple, spare style that draws from the subject's writings, this account affirms a life of service to the destitute and underprivileged. Black-and-white photographs appear in a 16-page center section. The text compares favorably to Jim O'Grady's Dorothy Day (Ward Hill, 1993), but neither volume measures up to adult biographies in emphasizing her influence on the American Catholic Church. A basic introduction for a generation unfamiliar with this leader for social justice.?Janet Woodward, Franklin High School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 7^-12. Kent expertly distills the drama of Day's life, from her childhood, when she "practiced being a saint," to her death, when she may actually have come close to being one. An honest picture of her life emerges, with Kent including mention of Day's tumultuous youth, abortion, short-lived marriage, brief imprisonment, involvement with Communism and the Catholic Worker Movement, and ultimate reconciliation with God. Day's character flaws are faithfully portrayed, as is the way her fate was inextricably bound to her compassion for the poor. Kent also lends a sense of many fascinating people Day knew--among them, Eugene O'Neill and John Dos Passos--who helped nurture her growing conviction that God was a real presence in her life. A finely detailed biography that evokes the spirit of a woman whose influence continues today. Shelley Townsend-Hudson