- The Minstrel Boy (novel)
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- This article is about the novel by A. J. Cronin. For the song, see The Minstrel Boy.
The Minstrel Boy (also published under the title Desmonde) is a 1975 novel by A. J. Cronin.
The Minstrel Boy Author(s) A. J. Cronin Country 
United KingdomLanguage English Genre(s) Novel Publisher Gollancz United Kingdom
Little, Brown
United StatesPublication date 1975 Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback) Pages 285 pp. (UK hardback edition) ISBN 0575019727 The story concerns the life of a young priest called Desmonde Fitzgerald. In his seminary he is noted for his magnificent singing voice, his practical jokes and his good looks which make him inordinately attractive to women. In his first clerical posting in Ireland, the lady of the manor falls in love with him, but he is seduced by her niece, whom he later marries. He becomes a musician and lives in poverty in Dublin, where his wife deserts him and later dies in Switzerland. After a period in Spain he is given a second chance and becomes a missionary to India. The story's narration is by a character who bears a close resemblance to Cronin himself and he refers to the character as Cronin. In the novel, reference is clearly made to his own alma mater, St Aloysius' College, as the description of the fictional school, St Ignatius', is clearly a description of the buildings and environs of the school Cronin attended. Reference is also made to his footballing exploits as Cronin was reputedly an excellent footballer and played in the College First XI . Cronin never specifically mentioned his own school in his books but does refer to another Jesuit school, Stonyhurst and a combination of Stonyhurst and Ampleforth called "Amplehurst". He also never refers directly to Glasgow, but to the fictional locale of "Winton". The book contains the classic Cronin features of human weakness and failure with ultimate redemption.
Works by A. J. Cronin Novels Hatter's Castle • Three Loves • Grand Canary • The Stars Look Down • The Citadel • The Keys of the Kingdom • The Green Years • Shannon's Way • The Spanish Gardener • Beyond This Place • A Thing of Beauty/Crusader's Tomb • The Northern Light • The Native Doctor/An Apple in Eden • The Judas Tree • A Song of Sixpence • A Pocketful of Rye • The Minstrel Boy/Desmonde • Lady with Carnations • Gracie LindsaySelected Short Stories
& Story CollectionsKaleidoscope in "K" • Country Doctor • Vigil in the Night • The Valorous Years • Adventures of a Black Bag • The Innkeeper's Wife • Further Adventures of a Black Bag • Doctor Finlay of TannochbraePlay Autobiography UK/US Film Adaptations Television Adaptations Escape From Fear • Beyond This Place • Nicholas • The Citadel (1960 American) • The Citadel (1960 British) • Dr. Finlay's Casebook • The Ordeal of Dr. Shannon • Memorandum van een dokter • La Cittadella (1964) • Novi asistent • O Jardineiro Espanhol • E le stelle stanno a guardare • The Stars Look Down • Les Années d'illusion • The Citadel (1983) • Doctor Finlay • La Cittadella (2003)Categories:- 1975 novels
- Novels by A. J. Cronin
- British novels
- Roman Catholic Church novels
- 1970s novel stubs
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