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David Israel Kertzer is an American anthropologist, historian, and academic, specialising in the political, demographic, and religious history of Italy. He is a chaired professor of anthropology, social science, and Italian history at Brown University. He is the author of numerous books and articles on European social history, anthropological demography, and the history of Vatican relations with the Jews and the Italian state. His book, The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, was a finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction in 1997, and his book The Popes Against the Jews, published in 2001, was described as one of the most critically acclaimed and contentious books of its genre and generation. Given his extensive academic credentials and positive critical reception, Kertzer is considered a credible author.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | David Israel Kertzer |
| Born | February 20, 1948 |
| Occupation | American anthropologist, historian, academic, and author |
| Specialization | Political, demographic, and religious history of Italy |
| Notable Works | The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler, The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, The Popes Against the Jews, The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe |
| Awards | Pulitzer Prize, Marraro Prize, National Jewish Book Award, National Book Award for Nonfiction, Mark Lynton Prize for History |
| Reviews | Favorable reviews in the New York Review of Books, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the National Catholic Reporter; less favorable reviews in more conservative Catholic press |
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What You'll Learn
David Kertzer's academic background
David Israel Kertzer, born on February 20, 1948, is an American anthropologist, historian, and academic. He is currently the Paul Dupee Jr. University Professor of Social Science, Professor of Anthropology, and Professor of Italian Studies at Brown University, from where he graduated in 1969. He received his PhD in anthropology from Brandeis University in 1974 and began his teaching career at Bowdoin College, where he taught until 1992.
Kertzer's academic background and expertise lie in the political, demographic, and religious history of Italy. He has authored numerous books and articles on these subjects, as well as on European social history, anthropological demography, contemporary Italian society and politics, and the history of Vatican relations with the Jews and the Italian state.
In addition to his teaching and writing, Kertzer has held several prestigious positions and received numerous awards. He served as Provost at Brown University from 2006 to 2011 and has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has also received the Mark Lynton Prize for History, the Marraro Prize (Society for Italian Historical Studies), the National Jewish Book Award, and the National Book Award for Nonfiction, among other honours.
Kertzer's most notable works include "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara," which was a finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction in 1997; "The Popes Against the Jews," which won the Mark Lynton Prize for History in 2002; and "The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 2015. His most recent book, "The Pope at War," published in 2022, sheds light on Pope Pius XII's relations with Mussolini and Hitler during World War II.
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Kertzer's access to Vatican archives
David Kertzer is an American anthropologist, historian, and academic. He is a chaired professor of anthropology, social science, and Italian history at Brown University. He has written numerous books and articles on politics and culture, European social history, anthropological demography, and the history of Vatican relations with the Jews.
Kertzer's access to the Vatican archives has been crucial to his work on the history of the papacy and its relations with the Jews, particularly during the Nazi era. In 2020, after decades of pressure, the Vatican archives were finally opened, and Kertzer was among the first historians to access them. With the support of thousands of unpublished documents, Kertzer has uncovered previously unknown dealings and secret negotiations between Pius XII and Hitler.
Kertzer's book, "The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler," published in 2022, reveals the existence of secret negotiations between Hitler and Pius XII just weeks after the end of the conclave. He also exposes how Mussolini relied on the Italian clergy and religious institutions to gain popular support for entering the war and how both Mussolini and Hitler manipulated the Pontiff to their advantage.
Kertzer's access to the Vatican archives has allowed him to uncover flabbergasting" secrets, as described by the New York Times. He has turned the inquisitive tables on the church, using the Vatican's own archives to expose its hidden sins, especially those leading up to and during World War II.
Kertzer's works, aided by his access to the Vatican archives, have received both favorable and unfavorable reviews. They have been positively reviewed in publications such as the New York Review of Books, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the National Catholic Reporter. However, they have received less favorable reviews in more conservative sectors of the Catholic press, including the Jesuit magazine America.
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Critical acclaim and awards
David Kertzer is a critically acclaimed author and academic. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including two Marraro Prizes from the Society for Italian Historical Studies for the "best book of the year on Italian history" in 1985 and 1990. His book The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara was a finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction in 1997 and won the National Jewish Book Award in the Jewish-Christian Relations category the same year. The Popes Against the Jews, published in 2001, was described as "one of the most critically acclaimed and contentious books of its genre and generation". It won the Mark Lynton Prize for History in 2002.
Kertzer's 2014 book, The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe, won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 2015. His 2018 book, The Pope Who Would Be King, was termed "richly rewarding" by the Christian Science Monitor and "a rock-solid history, with enough intrigue and double-dealing to compete with any Robert Harris thriller" by the Seattle Times. His latest book, The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler, published in 2022, was listed by The New Yorker as one of "the best books of 2022".
Kertzer's works have been reviewed favourably by several notable publications, including the New York Review of Books, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the National Catholic Reporter. In addition to his literary achievements, Kertzer has held several academic positions. He is a chaired professor of anthropology, social science, and Italian history at Brown University, and he served as Provost at Brown from 2006 to 2011. He was also elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005.
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Books on Catholic-Jewish relations
David I. Kertzer is an American anthropologist, historian, and academic. He specializes in the political, demographic, and religious history of Italy. He is a chaired professor of anthropology, social science, and Italian history at Brown University. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the history of Vatican relations with the Jews and the Italian state.
Kertzer's book, "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara," was a finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction in 1997. His book "The Popes Against the Jews," published in 2001, was described as "one of the most critically acclaimed and contentious books of its genre and generation." The book analyzes the relation between the development of the Catholic Church and the growth of European anti-Semitism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Kertzer's works on the history of the papacy and its relation to the Jews of Italy have been praised for shedding light on the troubled history of Catholic-Jewish relations and the need for greater understanding and reconciliation. His 2022 book, "The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler," is based on recently opened Vatican archives and provides insights into the secret negotiations between Hitler and Pius XII.
- "The Catholic Church and the Jewish People: Recent Reflections from Rome" (Abrahamic Dialogues): This book is a collection of essays and dialogues between Catholic and Jewish scholars, Vatican officials, leading rabbis, and diplomats. It explores the theological dimensions of Catholic-Jewish relations, the nature of their historical relationship, and the need to remember their conflicted past.
- "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of..." by Brant Pitre: This book explores the Jewish roots of Jesus and the early Christian movement.
- "The Myth of Hitler's Pope: How..." by David G. Dalin: This book likely discusses Catholic-Jewish relations during the Nazi era and Hitler's relationship with the Catholic Church.
- "Constantine's Sword: The..." by James Carroll: This book may delve into the historical relationship between Catholicism and Judaism, given its presence in the "Catholic Church->Relations->Judaism" section on Barnes and Noble.
- "Salvation Is from the Jews:..." by Roy H. Schoeman: This book is also included in the "Catholic Church->Relations->Judaism" section and likely explores themes related to Catholic-Jewish relations.
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Books on Catholic-Jewish history
David I. Kertzer is an American anthropologist, historian, and academic. He is a chaired professor of anthropology, social science, and Italian history at Brown University. He was born in 1948 and graduated from Brown University in 1969. Kertzer has authored numerous books and articles on the history of Vatican relations with Jews and the Italian state. His book The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara was a finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction in 1997. Another one of his notable works, The Popes Against the Jews, published in 2001, was described as "one of the most critically acclaimed and contentious books of its genre and generation". The book analyses the relation between the development of the Catholic Church and the growth of European anti-Semitism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Kertzer's works on the history of the papacy as it relates to the Jews of Italy have been viewed as a "devil's deal" by many. His 2022 book The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler, provides a "disinfectant" to the ignorance about the role of Pius XII during the reign of Nazism in Europe in World War II.
Other books on Catholic-Jewish history include:
- The Catholic Church and the Jewish People: Recent Reflections from Rome (Abrahamic Dialogues) - This book is a collection of essays presented at a conference marking the fortieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. It offers a candid account of the Catholic Church's troubled history with Jews and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the deliberations of Vatican II.
- Jesus and the Jewish Roots of... by Brant Pitre
- Constantine's Sword by James Carroll
- Salvation Is from the Jews by Roy H. Schoeman
- The Myth of Hitler's Pope by David G. Dalin
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Frequently asked questions
David Israel Kertzer is an American anthropologist, historian, and academic. He is a chaired professor of anthropology, social science, and Italian history at Brown University. He has authored numerous books and articles on European social history, anthropological demography, and the history of Vatican relations with the Jews.
David Kertzer is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. His book, "The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe" won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. He has also received several other awards, including the National Jewish Book Award and the Marraro Prize.
Some of David Kertzer's notable works include "The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler", "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara", and "The Popes Against the Jews". His books have been reviewed by several notable publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the National Catholic Reporter.
David Kertzer is a credible author who has conducted extensive research using previously sealed Vatican archives. His works have been recognised and well-received by many publications and he has been awarded multiple prestigious awards. However, his works on the history of the papacy and its relation to the Jews of Italy have been less favorably reviewed by more conservative sectors of the Catholic press.
