Dorothy Day (1897-1980), writer and co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, is one of the most interesting and puzzling figures in the history of American Catholicism and of American dissent. A labour radical with a Bohemian lifestyle in her youth, Dorothy spent most of her life in New York. She went to jail with suffragists in 1917 and opposed a string of wars from Spain to Vietnam.In August 1970, Dorothy visited Australia. To mark the 50th anniversary, Val Noone, who spent time with her on that occasion, puts on record details of her stay and explores her long-term impact. For instance, in Australia, her practice and ideas offered an alternative to the Santamaria movement.After a broken marriage and other relationships, Dorothy found unexpected happiness in her partnership with Forster Batterham, a fellow radical activist, an atheist and a biologist. However, in 1926 Dorothy had their daughter Tamar baptised and a year later became a Catholic herself, which resulted in a tragic parting from Batterham, who did not believe in marriage or religion.Then, with Peter Maurin, a wandering French-born scholar, she ran a house of hospitality in New York's lower east side and founded a monthly newspaper called the Catholic Worker, from which a movement grew and continues today.Many others since Batterham have wondered about the way Dorothy maintained her political radicalism alongside her firm commitment to the Catholic religion - whenever possible she went to Mass everyday and she professed obedience to the bishops, though often critical of those of them who supported capitalism and American wars.This book tables and respects the intriguing enigmas of Dorothy's life, with a focus on her Australian connections. Although dealing with religion, it is written for the general reader. (289 words)