Francis Chisholm is a compassionate and humble priest whosevocation emerged from a crucible of suffering. His parents were murdered inanti-Catholic riots in Scotland, his guardians mistreat him, and hissweetheart commits suicide. He is sent to China where he establishes aflourishing Catholic mission amid desperate poverty, civil war, plague, andthe hostility of his superiors. Recognized as A.J. Cronin's best novel,The Keys of the Kingdom is a gripping and thoughtful tale of a mancalled to do good in an imperfect world.