Memorial Bridge

by James Carroll

Sean Dillon pulls himself out of the slums of the Depression to become a lawyer, and discovers beautiful, passionate Cass, a woman of the same mean streets. With her fierce intelligence as his compass, Sean knows he can make his life matter. He becomes an intelligence officer and presidential advisor through war and peace, but he begins to lose his passion for the good fight -- until the rage and confusion of the 1960s enters his family's life. Only then can Sean, Cass, and their son Richard come face-to-face with the high price to be paid for their most cherished convictions -- love of their family and their country.

From the horrors of the Chicago stockyards to the gangland corruption that pollutes the city; from the intrigue of World War II espionage to the sharply divided homefront during the Vietnam War, master storyteller James Carroll tells an American epic of conscience, ambition, and conflict.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

503 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

James Carroll was born in Chicago and raised in Washington, D.C. He has been a civil rights worker, an antiwar activist, and a community organizer in Washington and New York. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969 and served as Catholic chaplain at Boston University. Carroll left the priesthood to become a novelist and playwright. He lives in Boston with his wife, the novelist Alexandra Marshall, and their two children.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid, complicated story that I enjoyed immensely. Well written, characters that have been brought to light, and an effective walk from the stockyards of Chicago to the hallways of the Pentagon. Looking forward to reading another of his novels.

[B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mary Spencer · Rating 1 out of 5]

C'mon . . .

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to really enjoy these sorts of sagas, but I don't find myself wanting to reread.