David Kertzer

David Kertzer is an American anthropologist, author, and professor of anthropology and Italian studies at Brown University. He is best known for his research on Italian history, particularly the role of the Catholic Church in politics and society.

David Kertzer has written several books on Italian history and the role of the Catholic Church. Some of his notable works include "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara", which won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, "The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe", which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, and "The Pope Who Would Be King: The Exile of Pius IX and the Emergence of Modern Europe".

"The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara" is a book by David Kertzer that tells the story of a young Jewish boy, Edgardo Mortara, who was secretly baptized by a Catholic maid and subsequently taken from his family by the Papal States authorities in 1858. The book explores the controversial issue of forced baptisms and the power struggle between the Catholic Church and the Italian state during that time.

"The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe" is a book by David Kertzer that examines the complex relationship between Pope Pius XI and the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The book reveals the extent to which the Catholic Church supported Mussolini's rise to power and explores the Church's role in the rise of fascism in Italy and Europe.

In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for his books "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara" and "The Pope and Mussolini", David Kertzer has received numerous other accolades for his work. He has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy in Rome, and he has received honorary degrees from several universities.