Cronin, A. J. (1896-1981), was a popular British novelist. He gained literary fame with his first novel, Hatter’s Castle (1931), a story of country life in Scotland. Cronin developed a pattern of centering his novels on a single problem or profession, treating it with an engaging combination of realistic detail and romantic plotting. The Stars Look Down (1935) describes poor working conditions in an English mining community. The Citadel (1937) is the story of a young Scottish doctor and also a critical study of the medical profession. The Keys of the Kingdom (1941) is a moving story about a Roman Catholic missionary priest in China. Cronin’s later novels include A Thing of Beauty (1956), A Pocketful of Rye (1969), and The Lady with Carnations (1976).
Archibald Joseph Cronin was born on July 19, 1896, in Cardross, Scotland. He practiced medicine from 1919 to 1930. Cronin moved to the United States in the mid-1940’s. His autobiography, Adventures in Two Worlds (1951), deals with his early years as a doctor. He died on Jan. 6, 1981.
