The Innkeeper's Wife

by A.J. Cronin

Speaking of his Christmas story originally published in “The American Weekly” magazine in December 1958, A. J. Cronin explained: “It came to me very strongly that to achieve the highest and most profoundly touching results, I should go back to the first Christmas of all and create a vivid reconstruction of the effects of the birth of the Child upon certain characters, notably the wife of the innkeeper where no room was found for Mary and Joseph. The title of the story would be “The Innkeeper's Wife,” for she, as I imagine her, is the central human character—a good and tender-hearted woman, childless herself, and bullied by an assertive and miserly husband.”

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christmas

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 1958

About the author

Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish novelist, dramatist, and non-fiction writer who was one of the most renowned storytellers of the twentieth century. His best-known works are The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films. He also created the Dr. Finlay character, the hero of a series of stories that served as the basis for the long-running BBC television and radio series entitled Dr. Finlay's Casebook.
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read: The best Christmas story ever!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

And they will call his name Jesus

This is an excellent book. It's so easy to climb into the account of Christ's birth- smelling the animals in the stable, hearing the soft cry of a brand new infant, and feeling the conflict in the heart of the gruff innkeeper and experiencing the change. The writing of A. J. Cronin rates at the top!

[Kathy G. Konecny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It reminded me of what Christmas really is.

After the rush of the holiday season, this story put my feet back on the ground. The story gives a new perspective on the beauty of the Christmas story. I am so glad I read it.

[Valsala Rajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? It's Cronin (the first 'grown-up' stories I ever read) and it's the Christmas story. And to cap that I always love stories told from the minor characters' pov. I'm not sure you can call it a novel. Took just half an hour to read and I rather like 'getting into' a book.

[Mbuye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of the Christmas story from the perspective of the Innkeeper’s wife. It is she who recognises the need of a woman in travail, and finds the empty corner of the manger. Well told, in the Cronin style, and more a short story than a novella.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet nativity story.