Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was born in France and came to live in the United States at the age of 24. One of the most influential Catholic authors of the 20th century, he received several awards for his contribution to religious study and contemplation. He was a tireless advocate for social justice and wrote more than 70 books. Merton was also a proponent of interreligious dialogue, engaging in spiritual dialogues with the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and D. T. Suzuki. His life and career were suddenly cut short at age 53 when he died in 1968.