Robert Ellsberg


Robert Ellsberg, son of Daniel Ellsberg, is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Orbis Books, the publishing arm of Maryknoll.

Early life

Robert is the son of Carol Cummings, the daughter of a Marine Corps Brigadier General, and the American military analyst and whistleblower, Daniel Ellsberg. He is the older brother of epidemiologist Mary Ellsberg and author Michael Ellsberg. In 1975, at age 19, he dropped out of college, intending to spend a few months with the Catholic Worker Movement.

Career

He stayed to become the managing editor of The Catholic Worker for two years, a job that would introduce him to Dorothy Day and consequently would allow him to work with Day for the last five years of her life. This life-changing experience prompted him to convert to Catholicism.
Robert returned to Harvard, and earned a degree in religion and literature, and later a Master's in Theology from Harvard Divinity School.
In 1984 his book By Little and By Little won a Christopher Award.
In 1987 he began work as editor-in-chief of Orbis Books. He is the author of several books, many of which have received awards; his Blessed Among All Women tied a Catholic Press Association record by winning awards for Gender, Spirituality, and Popular Presentation of the Catholic Faith. He is the editor of the published diaries and letters of Dorothy Day.

Books