Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History’ is an engrossing read. But is it also a powerful expression of our human efforts to understand eternal truths?
James T. Keane
James T. Keane is a Senior Editor at America.
Posted inScripture Reflections
Monica, the saint who got results
A Reflection for the Memorial of St. Monica, by James T. Keane
Posted inCatholic Book Club
‘Very casually Catholic’ White Sox owner Bill Veeck would have loved ‘pope hat’ night
Known for his quixotic ballpark gimmicks and unique promotions, Bill Veeck was also an advocate for racial integration and a generous Catholic philanthropist.
Posted inCatholic Book Club
Lessons from the Berlin Wall for Trump’s America: You can’t keep people in (or out) forever.
65 years ago, the Berlin Wall divided that city in two and became an enduring symbol of the Cold War. But do walls really ever work?
Posted inScripture Reflections
Is life but a joke?
A Reflection for the Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, by James T. Keane
Posted inCatholic Book Club
James T. Farrell was condemned by the church—and paved the way for American Catholic writers
James T. Farrell’s Studs Lonigan trilogy in the 1930s set him up as an enemy of a church that was aghast at his portrayal of human nature and, frankly, of the Catholic Church itself.
Posted inBooks
‘Winnie the Pooh’ made A. A. Milne rich—but not for the reasons he wanted.
A. A. Milne created “Winnie the Pooh” and all his fantastical friends—but was also a novelist, playwright, screenwriter and, by many accounts, a disappointed intellectual.
Posted inIdeas
Did Pope Leo just quote a Bob Dylan deep cut?
Pope Leo is the first pope to quote Bob Dylan. But he’s not the first to interact with the famous troubadour.
Posted inIdeas
No one reads anymore. But you should if you want to be a good Catholic.
If we really are entering a postliterate culture, what does that mean for faith?
Posted inCatholic Book Club
Caryll Houselander: Britain’s ‘rocking-horse Catholic’ and bohemian disciple
The writings of Caryll Houselander, a mid-century British artist, poet and spiritual writer, remain for many a treasure trove of honest reflections on faith.