Keys of the Kingdom,? by A.J. Cronin, starts off as a heart wrenching story about a boy who experiences misfortune one after another. His life seems to take a slide until God turns his afflictive calamity into a glorious fortune.
             In the first half of the story, Francis grows up in Tweedside, Scotland in the year 1878. Scotland is a gorgeous country filled with luscious greens and mountains that fill the eye with wonder and awe. Francis's father was a Catholic and unlike his father, his mother was of a different religion. But when Francis travels to an alien land, the scene is filled with easy country, splendid mountains, the valleys were aflame with wild rhododendrons, and glades of flowering apricots whose perfume prickled the nostrils like sparkling wine. Although the scenery is as beautiful as it is, in the town Pai-Tan, China is filled with gloomy faces, and pockets empty.
             Francis is the type of man whose speech is sparingly heard, but strongly and most definitely imprints a mark in the heart of the listener. His humble attire and sincere character make him appear sensitive and devout. Throughout life his companion, Willy, is a headstrong and faithful pagan that is always there when a sticky situation appears. Because he attended medical school, his precise and quick-witted actions help Francis when he needs Willy the most. Another main character in the story, although short lived, is Nora. Nora had been Francis's only one true love, the kind of love that Francis would give his life for. In Francis's eyes she was breath taking and gorgeous. Her skin was as soft as a baby's and her face was a pleasant sight for sore eyes. But an undesirable accident occurs where Nora is dreadfully sick, depressed and disoriented. In the end, out of desperation, Nora kills herself as a way out. Although Nora did not have the biggest part, she sure imprinted a life long memory in Francis's soul that changed
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