Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz worked side by side with Pope John Paul II for almost forty years, enjoying unique access to both the public and private man. In A life with Karol, he provides a close-up glimpse into the PopeÆs life and the critical events of his papacy.

Dziwisz was sitting next to the Pope during the assassination attempt in 1981. He recounts the Pope's reaction to 9/11, describing his thoughts and feelings on that day. And the CardinalÆs moving description of the PopeÆs haunting memories of World War II uncovers the roots of the pontiffÆs intense opposition to George W. BushÆs war on Iraq. The two men shared moments of fun and spontaneity as well. Dziwisz writes about the times the Pope would slip out of the Vatican, wearing a Panama hat, to stroll the streets of Rome, and he describes the clandestine ski and hiking trips the pair made to escape the Vatican. His firsthand account of the PopeÆs last years also reveals that John Paul II considered resigning. These stories and others lend added poignancy to DziwiszÆs extraordinary portrayal of the PopeÆs courage and calmness during his final illness.