Scottish novelist, an accomplished storyteller. Cronin gained fame with his novel Hatter's Castle(1931). He produced several bestsellers with social concern or based the stories on his experiences as a doctor. Cronin continued to write until he was in his eightieth year. His books also gained a wide audience through film and television.

Cronin was born in Cardross, Strathclyde, as the only child of Jessie (Montgomery) Cronin and Patrick Cronin. His childhood was shadowed by the death of his father and poverty. Cronin was educated at Dumbarton Academy at his uncle's expense. In 1914 he entered the Glasgow University Medical School, graduating in 1919. During World War I Cronin served as a surgeon in the Royal Navy.

Many of Cronin's books have been adapted for films or television programs. The television series Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1959-66, new adaptation 1993) was based on his stories. For the last 35 years of his life Cronin lived in Switzerland. He died on January 9, 1981, in Montreaux, Switzerland.

Author of the following religious works, books, stories and novels : Doctor Finlay of Tonnochbrae, Gracie Lindsay, A Pocketful of Rye, Beyond This Place, Hatter's Castle, Shannon's Way, The Citadel, Adventures of a Black Bag, Keys of the Kingdom, plus many other AJ Cronin novels, stories and bestsellers.

AJ Cronin : For further reading: World Authors 1900-1950, ed. by Martin Seymour-Smith and Andrew C. Kimmens (1996); A.J. Cronin by D. Salwalk (1985); A.J. Cronin: A Reference Guide by D. Salwalk (1984); Adventures in Two Worlds by A.J. Cronin (1952); Catholic Authors, ed. by M. Hoehn (1947) - Other medical doctors as writers: Anton Chekhov, Frank G. Slaughter, Richard Gordon, Michael Crichton, James Herriot (veterinarian).