A. J. Cronin was a novelist, dramatist, and nonfiction writer whose works examine moral conflicts between the individual and society as his idealistic heroes pursue justice for the common man. His moralistic novels are known by the public for their memorable characters, powerful themes, and melodramatic plots used to set up Cronin's optimistic endings. While the early novels focus on social or moral issues of modern life, the later ones have more-spiritual themes, and the critics generally consider his ideas to be better than his skills. In Britain and the United States he is often looked upon as a hack writer, but in the former Soviet Union he is quite popular through a complete edition of his works that includes scholarly introductions and annotations. Several of his novels have been made into successful films and television adaptations.

Archibald Joseph Cronin was born on 19 July 1896 in Cardross, Dumbartonshire, Scotland...