The Keys of the Kingdom
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1941 |
| Founder | A. J. Cronin |
| Products | Novel |
The Keys of the Kingdom is a novel published in 1941 by A. J. Cronin that covers a span of sixty years, portraying the journey of Father Francis Chisholm, a distinctive Scottish Catholic priest dedicated to founding a mission in China. Despite experiencing early personal losses, Chisholm confronts numerous adversities such as famine, epidemic, and warfare in the Chinese region where he ministers. His empathetic and open-minded demeanor gains admiration from both the indigenous Chinese population and doubtful members of the clergy.
Synopsis
The narrative is structured into six segments. The initial part (The Beginning of the End) takes place in Scotland in 1938, depicting an elderly Father Chisholm under scrutiny because of his unconventional perspectives. The second segment (Strange Vocation) recounts his formative years: orphaned following his parents' demise, he is brought up by his maternal grandmother who exploits him financially. Guided by his grandfather’s principles of universal acceptance and supported by the Tulloch family, Chisholm overcomes difficulties and eventually enters a seminary despite tensions arising from his humanistic convictions. He forges an important relationship with Bishop Hamish McNabb.
In the third segment (An Unsuccessful Curate), Father Chisholm confronts institutional resistance and traditionalism during his initial pastoral roles. He encounters doubt after questioning a local girl’s claim about healing waters with miraculous properties but is ultimately proven correct when she confesses to fabricating the story.
The fourth part (The China Incident) focuses on Chisholm’s missionary efforts in Pai-tan, China, where he revitalizes a neglected mission by establishing a free medical clinic with assistance from Willie Tulloch, who has become a physician. His dedication wins local trust, resulting in land donations and the creation of a school staffed by three nuns. After the area suffers from natural calamities and plague, including Tulloch’s death, Chisholm faces complex issues such as conflicts involving warlords that compel him to set aside his pacifist stance. Following an abduction episode involving missionaries, he returns to Scotland.
In section five (The Return), Bishop Anselm Mealey refuses Chisholm’s appeal to work in his hometown and assigns him elsewhere instead. Chisholm adopts Andrew, son of Nora—his childhood sweetheart who died tragically—and continues his pastoral duties.
The concluding section (The End of the Beginning) ends with Monsignor Sleeth acknowledging Chisholm’s forward-thinking beliefs and advising that he maintain his position despite ongoing controversies.
Adaptations
This novel was transformed into the 1944 motion picture The Keys of the Kingdom, featuring Gregory Peck as Father Francis Chisholm and Vincent Price portraying Anselm "Angus" Mealey. Peck earned his inaugural Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for this performance.
It was also adapted into radio dramas: on 19 November 1945 for Lux Radio Theater starring Ronald Colman and Ann Harding, and on 21 August 1946 for Academy Award Theater, with Peck reprising his role.
References
- Cronin, A. J. The Keys of the Kingdom. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. 1941.