This bibliography includes a comprehensive list of books by Dorothy Day, biographies about Dorothy Day, books about the Catholic Worker Movement, and books by or about other influential figures in the Catholic Worker Movement.
Books authored by Dorothy Day
Day, Dorothy. The Eleventh Virgin. New York: Albert & Charles Boni, 1924. 312p.
This is Day’s autobiographical novel from her pre-conversion years. It begins with family relationships, focusing especially on her mother, and proceeds through her radical years with the pacifist, birth control, socialist, and suffragist movements. It concludes with her abortion and breakup with Lionel Moise (Dick Wemys). William Miller’s biography on Dorothy Day gives the real-life names behind the characters. The New York Times reviewed the book as “just one more adolescent novel,” and Dorothy Day later called it a bad book. Full text available online.
Day, Dorothy. From Union Square to Rome. New York: Arno Press, 1978. Originally published in 1938. 173p.
In this memoir, Day recounts her journey from her socialist roots to Catholicism, reflecting on her social and political activism as well as her personal faith and struggles. The book provides insight into Day’s philosophical evolution and the Catholic Worker Movement, which she founded with Peter Maurin. Full text available online.
Day, Dorothy. House of Hospitality. New York: Sheed & Ward, 1939. 275p.
This collection of essays chronicles the early years of the Catholic Worker Movement and its efforts to provide food, shelter, and other forms of assistance to the poor and homeless. The book offers a glimpse into the daily operations of the movement and the practical challenges it faced in fulfilling its mission. Full text available online.
Day, Dorothy. Loaves and Fishes. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983. Originally published in 1963. 215p.
Loaves and Fishes is a memoir that details Day’s experiences with the Catholic Worker Movement during the 1960s. The book also explores her spiritual beliefs and her commitment to social justice. Through personal anecdotes, Day reflects on the movement’s successes and failures and its ongoing struggle to address poverty and inequality.
Day, Dorothy. The Long Loneliness: the autobiography of Dorothy Day. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981. Originally published in 1952. 288p.
This autobiography traces Day’s life from her childhood in a middle-class family to her conversion to Catholicism and her work with the Catholic Worker Movement. The book provides insight into Day’s spiritual beliefs, her personal struggles, and her contributions to social justice. The Long Loneliness is a seminal work in the genre of spiritual autobiography.
Day, Dorothy. On Pilgrimage. New York: Catholic Worker Books, 1948. 175p.
On Pilgrimage is a collection of essays that reflect on Day’s experiences while traveling throughout Europe and Asia. The book examines her spiritual beliefs and her commitment to social justice. Day’s reflections on the impact of her travels on her worldview and her understanding of Catholicism make the book an important contribution to the genre of travel writing. Full text available online.
Day, Dorothy. On Pilgrimage: The Sixties. New York: Curtis Books, 1972. 383p.
This book is a follow-up to On Pilgrimage, and it documents Day’s travels throughout the United States during the 1960s. The book also discusses her involvement in various social justice movements during that time. On Pilgrimage: The Sixties is an important historical document that provides insight into the social and political upheavals of the era, as well as Day’s personal reflections on her experiences.
Day, Dorothy. Therese. Springfield, IL: Templegate, 1979. 178p.
Therese is a biography of Saint Therese of Lisieux, a French Catholic nun who lived in the late 19th century. The book explores Therese’s spiritual beliefs and her influence on Catholicism. Through her reflections on Therese’s life and writings, Day offers insight into her own spiritual journey and her commitment to social justice.
Anthologies of writings by Dorothy Day
Day, Dorothy and Michael Garvey. Dorothy Day: Selections from Her Writings (The Modern Spirituality Series) Springfield, IL: Templegate Publishers, 1997. 94p.
Day, Dorothy and Patrick Jordan, Ed. Dorothy Day: Writings from Commonweal. Collegville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2002. 184p.
Day, Dorothy and Francis Sicius. Peter Maurin: Apostle to the World. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2004. 187p.
Ellsberg, Robert Ed. All the Way to Heaven: The Selected Letters of Dorothy Day. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 2010. 456p.
Ellsberg, Robert (ed). Dorothy Day, selected writings: By little and by little. Maryknoll, NY, Orbis Books, c.1992.xli,371p.
Ellsberg, Robert Ed. The Duty of Delight: The Diaries of Dorothy Day Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 2008. 669p.
Jordon, Patrick ed. Hold Nothing Back: Writings by Dorothy Day. Collegeville, Minnesota, Liturgical Press, 2016. 110 pages.
McDonough, Tom Ed. An Eye For Others: Dorothy Day, Journalist 1916-1917 Washington, Clemency Press, 2016. 189 pages.
Mitchell, Patricia (Ed.). A Radical Love:Wisdom From Dorothy Day. Ijamsville, Maryland, The Word Among Us Press, 2000. 143p.
Quigley, Margaret and Michael Garvey (eds). The Dorothy Day book. Springfield, IL, Templegate, c.1982.124p.
Vishnewski, Stanley (ed). Meditations/Dorothy Day. New York, Paulist Press, c.1970. 93p.
Zagano, Phillis, Ed. Dorothy Day: In My Own Words. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 2003. 118p.
Note: Dorothy Day was a journalist and wrote extensively for Commonweal and other publications in addition to the Catholic Worker newspaper. Readers should consult the Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature from 1930-1960 under “Day, Dorothy” for references to her articles in these other publications. A partial list of Day’s articles in the Catholic Worker and other publications appears in Anne Klejment’s bibliography, Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker: a bibliography and index.
Biographies of Dorothy Day
Coles, Robert. Dorothy Day: a radical devotion. Reading, MA, Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., c.1987. xxi, 182p.
Egan, Eileen. Dorothy Day and the permanent revolution. Erie, PA, Benet Press, 1983. 24p.
Forest, Jim. Love Is the Measure: A Biography of Dorothy Day. New York, Paulist Press, c.1986. x, 224p.
Forest, Jim. All Is Grace: A Biography of Dorothy Day. New York, Orbis Books, c. 2011. 344p.
Hennessy, Kate. Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved by Beauty: An Intimate Portrait of my Grandmother. New York, Scribner, 2017. 372 pages.
Jordon, Patrick. Dorothy Day: Love in Action. Collegeville, Minnesota, Liturgical Press, 2015. 132 pages.
Miller, William D. Dorothy Day: A Biography. San Francisco, Harper & Row, c.1982. xv, 527p.
Miller, William D. A Harsh and Dreadful Love: Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement. New York, Liveright, c.1973. xvi,370p.
O’Grady, Jim. Dorothy Day: with love for the poor. Staten Island, NY, Ward Hill Press, c.1993. 115p.
Riegle, Rosalie. Dorothy Day: Portraits of Those Who Knew Her. New York: Orbis Books, 2003.
Riegle, Rosalie (ed). Voices from the Catholic Worker. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, c.1993. xxi, 597p.
Roberts, Nancy. Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker. Albany, State University of New York Press, c.1984. 226p.
Dorothy Day – philosophy and spirituality
Allaire, James, and Broughton, Rosemary. Praying With Dorothy Day. Winona, MN: Saint Mary’s Press, 1995. 127p.
Boover, Michael. 15 Days of prayer with Dorothy Day. Hyde Park, NY, New City Press, c. 2013. 168p.
Kurtz, Carolyn (Ed). The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus. New York, NY: Plough Publishing House . c. 2017. 128 pages.
McGrath, Michael O’Neill. Saved by Beauty: A Spiritual Journey with Dorothy Day. Franklin Park, IL: World Library Publications, 2012. 105p.
Merriman, Brigid O’Shea. Called to be holy: Dorothy Day and the retreat movement. Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame, c.1992.40p.
Merriman, Brigid O’Shea. Searching for Christ: the Spirituality of Dorothy Day. Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame, c.1994. xi, 333p.
Miller, William D. All Is Grace: the Spirituality of Dorothy Day. Garden City, NY, Doubleday, c.1987. 216p.
Mitchell, Patricia, Ed.A Radical Love: Wisdom from Dorothy Day. Ljamsville, MD: The Word Among Us Press, 2000. 141p.
O’Connor, June. The Moral Vision of Dorothy Day: a Feminist Perspective. New York, Crossroads, c.1991. x, 123p.
Books about the Catholic Worker Movement
Aronica, Michele Theresa. Beyond Charismatic Leadership: the New York Catholic Worker Movement. New Brunswick, Transaction Books, c.1987. xi, 197p.
Byrne, Carol. The Catholic Worker Movement (1933-1980): A Critical Analysis. Authorhouse UK, 2010. 332p.
Cleaver, Richard G. New Heaven, New Earth: Practical Essays on the Catholic Worker Program. Marion, SD, Rose Hill Books, c.1993. iv, 81p.
Coles, Robert. A Spectacle Unto the World: the Catholic Worker Movement. New York, Viking Press, c.1973. xv, 71p.
Cornell, Thomas C. and Jim Forest. A Penny a Copy: Readings from the Catholic Worker. New York, Macmillan, c.1968. xvi, 271p.
Coy, Patrick G. (ed). A Revolution of the Heart: essays on the Catholic Worker. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, c.1988.xiv,388p.
Dierks, Sheila D. and Patricia P. Ladley. Catholic Worker Houses: Ordinary Miracles. Kansas City, MO, Sheed & Ward, c.1988. 114p.
Ellis, Marc. A Year at the Catholic Worker. New York, Paulist Press, c.1978. 140p.
Flynn, Toni. Finding my way: a journey along the rim of the Catholic Worker Movement. Los Osos, CA, Sand River Press, c.1989. xvi, 84p.
Garvey, Michael. Confessions of a Catholic Worker. Chicago, Thomas More Press, c.1978. 132p.
Hennessy, Kate Ed. Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement: The Miracle of Our Continuance. Photographs by Vivian Cherry and texts by Dorothy Day. New York: Fordham University Press, 2016. 136 pages.
Klejment, Anne and Nancy L. Roberts (Eds.). American Catholic Pacifism: The Influence of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1996.
McKanan, Dan. The Catholic Worker After Dorothy: Practicing the Works of Mercy in a New Generation. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008. 236p.
Murray, Harry. Do Not Neglect Hospitality: the Catholic Worker Movement and the Homeless. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990.viii,285p.
Penatar, Michael P. The Social Thought of the Catholic Worker on the Negro. Washington, Catholic University of America Press, 1952.iv,213p.
Piehl, Mel. Breaking Bread: The Catholic Worker and the Origin of Catholic Radicalism in America. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, c.1984. 314p.
Sicius, Francis J. The Word Made Flesh: the Chicago Catholic Worker and the Emergence of Lay Activism in the Church. Lanham, MD, University Press of America, c.1990. xiv, 197p.
Thorn, William T, and Phillip M. Runkel and Susan Mountin, Eds. Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement: Centenary Essays. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 2001. 615p.
Zwick, Mark and Louise. The Catholic Worker Movement: Intellectual and Spiritual Origins. New York, Paulist Press, 2005. 358p.
Books by or about other Catholic Worker leaders
Cullen, Michael (with Don Ranly). A Time To Dance: The Mike Cullen Story. Celina, OH: Messenger Press, 1972.
Dietrich, Jeff.Reluctant Resister. Greensboro, NC: Unicorn Press, 1983.
Daloisio, Amanda and Mauk, Dan and Rogers, Terry (Eds.). Ambassadors of God: Selected Obituaries from The Catholic Worker. Eugene, OR: Resource Publications, 2018. 149 pages.
Eichenberg, Fritz.Works of Mercy. Maryknoll, NY, Orbis Books, c.1992. 109p.
Ellis, Mark. Peter Maurin: Prophet in the Twentieth Century. New York, Paulist Press, c.1981.191p.
Hennacy, Ammon. Autobiography of a Catholic Anarchist. New York, Catholic Worker Books, 1954. 314p.
Hennacy, Ammon. The Book of Ammon. Baltimore, MD, Fortkamp Publishing Co., 1994. 510p.
Maurin, Peter. Easy Essays. Chicago, Franciscan Herald Press, 1984 c.1977. 216p.
Riegle, Rosalie. Doing Time for Peace: Resistance, Family, and Community. (Vanderbilt University Press, 2012)
Riegle, Rosalie. Crossing the Line: Nonviolent Resisters Speak Out for Peace (Wipf and Stock Cascade, 2013.)
Sheehan, Arthur T. Peter Maurin: gay believer. Garden City, NY, Hanover House, 1959. 217p.
Stoughton, Judith. Proud Donkey of Schaerbeek: Ade Bethune, Catholic Worker artist. St. Cloud, MN, North Star Press, c.1988. xiv,104p.
Thomas, Joan. The Years of Grief and Laughter: A “Biography” of Ammon Hennacy. Baltimore, MD, Fortkamp Publishing Co., 1993 c.1974,342p.
Vishnewski, Stanley. Wings of Dawn. New York, Catholic Worker, 1984. 231p.
Other books of interest
[While these books are not entirely about Dorothy Day or the Catholic Worker movement, they do contain significant segments on these topics.]
Elie, Paul. The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003.555p.
Anne Klejment’s book, Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker: A Bibliography and Index (New York: Garland. 1986) provided an important starting point for creating this bibliography.
Many of the Catholic Worker communities in the United States publish their own newspapers or newsletters. The best-known and longest running one is The Catholic Worker (36 East First St.,New York, N.Y. 10003). Many of the Catholic Worker newspapers, both current and defunct, are available from Marquette University’s library under the subject “Catholic Worker Movement — Periodicals”. An index of articles appearing in The Catholic Worker (New York) from 1933-1983 can be found in Anne Klejment’s bibliography, Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker: a bibliography and index.