Dorothy Day was a radical journalist and social activist who has had a great influence on modern American Catholicism, and on many people outside the church as well. As the cofounder of the Catholic Worker movement and, for forty-seven years, the editor of its monthly paper, she created an original and sturdy synthesis of social radicalism and orthodox Catholic religion. Through the Catholic Worker and her other activities Day significantly raised the level of social thought and concern in American Catholicism, trained three generations of writers and social activists who passed through her movement, and evoked the admiration of many intellectuals, religious leaders, and public figures, as well as the ordinary poor folk to whom she devoted her life's work.

Day was born 8 November 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the third of five children, three boys and two girls, born to John and Grace Satterlee Day. Her...