THE SOCIAL EDGE INTERVIEW: PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR GARRY WILLS
by Gerry McCarthy
Garry Wills is the author of many acclaimed books, including: What Jesus Meant, Papal Sin, and Why I Am Catholic. All of these works were New York Times bestsellers.
In 1992, Wills won the Pulitzer Prize for his book Lincoln at Gettysburg. He’s also been the recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the National Medal for the Humanities.
In addition to studying for the priesthood at one time, Wills also taught Greek at John Hopkins University for many years. Currently he’s Professor of History Emeritus at Northwestern University. His book What Paul Meant was recently published by Viking. I reached him in Evanston, Illinois.
Gerry McCarthy: In your chapter "Paul and the Troubled Gatherings" we learn that where once Paul had excoriated Peter for insisting on the food code, now he tells Romans to accept it out of regard for tender consciences. Later you add that: "Paul would have been far better off if he had taken this stand at Antioch. But he should be credited with the fact that he reached it in time. One of the ways he teaches us is by learning himself. We find out what Paul meant by seeing how he eventually came close to what Jesus meant." This is something we miss when reflecting on Paul isn’t it?
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