Prince of Peace: A Novel

Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1984. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Thomas Victor (Author Photo). [10], 531, [3] pages. James P. Carroll (born January 22, 1943, Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American author, historian, and journalist. He has written extensively about his experiences in the seminary and as a priest, and has published books on religion and history. He won the 1996 National Book Award for Nonfiction for An American Requiem, a memoir about the Vietnam War and his relationships with his father, the American military, and the Catholic Church. He is the author of other books on religion and politics, including House of War, which won the first PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for non-fiction. Mr. Carroll's other works include the novels Secret Father, Prince of Peace, Mortal Friends in addition to plays and a book of poetry published. Carroll's work has received the Melcher Book Award, the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award, and National Jewish Book Award in History, and has frequently been named among the Notable Books of the Year by The New York Times. Derived from a Kirkus review: Carroll's narrator here is ex-English professor Frank Durkin, who emerges from a Holy Land monastery in 1984 to attend the funeral of his beloved friend/enemy Michael Maguire. Mike and "Durk" grow up in Inwood circa 1950; while Durk goes to NYU, Mike goes to Korea for terrible combat and POW experiences--coming home a reluctant hero. . . and a newly religious man overwhelmed by "conscience." Mike goes for the priesthood. As a fledgling deacon he finds himself joining nun/teacher Carolyn in demonstrating to save a condemned school. Mike, still enthralled by priestly order and obedience, continues to do Cardinal Spellman's bidding--administering Catholic relief programs in 1960s Vietnam. He tries to defend or pray away a series of horrifying disillusionments. Eventually Mike's conscience overshadows his faith and he joins a Saigon protest-march; back in the US, he sabotages Draft Offices-leading to arrest, trial, escape, a fugitive-underground life. The chronicle of priest/Church conflict is powerful and intriguing--with disturbing glimpses of the Cardinal as militaristic Machiavelli.