The Miracle Of The Bells

by Russell Janney

Russell Janney’s debut novel tells the story of Bill Dunnigan, the greatest press agent in America, who brings the body of Olga Treskovna, the purest female and best actress of America, to Coaltown, the worst mining town in the country, for burial.

The first part of the book is a flashback to the love story of the press agent and the actress, which was ideal, rather uncomplicated, and completely unconsummated. However, with Olga’s death, there begins an exhibition of power by the press agent—and this becomes the real substance of the book.

A novel of joyousness in life that will sweep the reader into a delightful liberating experience...

Genres: Fiction, Classics

767 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1946

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because it was the best selling book the year I was born. (1947) I loved the progression from desperation to triumph, from separation to unity. It was spiritual without being preachy.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book somehow appeared on my pile of books to read - at some point I picked it up from my mom when she was cleaning our her library and it is an old reprint from the original printing. The first section started at the current time and then told us the story of Bill Dunnigan and Olga Treskovna through flashbacks.

There is sprinkled “strong” language that I was surprised was in a book from the 1940s but it was used in character development and did it’s job.

For the rest of the story, over and over, it is shown how one person can make a difference for good in countless other individual’s lives. It is a great story of redemption and I’m glad I read it!

[Lucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A publicity stunt to hype the last movie by a deceased actress from a small Pennsylvania town expands to touch the lives of all who knew her. I don't normally read non-genre books, but I am glad I picked up this one. One of the most popular books of 1947, it brought me to tears in places and lightened my heart in others. Written during the late WWII period, a book of inspiration and agape love!

[Russell Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miracle of the Bells was first published in 1947; I first enjoyed it when I was a child, after seeing the film based on the book. It has sat on my bookshelf through four homes over fifty years, and it now opened itself to me once again. The book itself is the miracle. A tale of a brash publicity agent of Broadway and Hollywood and the love he has for a young Polish/American girl from Pennsylvania’s coal country, Miracle of the Bells is a story of faith and how its power can fill us, change us, and nourish us. Author Russell Janney was a Broadway producer and the co-author of the operetta The Vagabond King when he wrote this, his first novel, at age sixty-five. Given that his other major work was an old-fashioned operetta, it is no surprise that the writing here is a bit formal and stilted at times. I’ve read best-sellers from the 1940s and most are not as old-fashioned as this style of narrative. But looking beyond that, Janney has created characters that leap from the page and grasp our hearts while they learn the meaning of religion and of life. The main character Bill Dunnigan, communing in the cemetery, realizes the gravedigger he’d spoken with earlier was right when he said, and I quote from the novel, “Heaven was right here—if there had been a place we loved, and hearts we loved.” This story shows us that no one ever dies for they live on in those who love them and it also shows us that miracles do happen if there is enough love and faith. That sounds hokey, but I, a sometime cynic, felt a little heart tug as I read the conclusion of this book. One caveat: it seems to me, even in the 1940s, that Janney’s editor was a bit too easy on him. This book has a zillion and two exclamation points. Janney wants us to see the excitement or fervor or earnestness. He even uses exclamation points when a question mark would make more sense. I had to work hard to overlook these pesky punctuation marks, for at first, I felt as if every few words the author was shouting at me. Just as Picasso painting should not be edited after it has been revealed to the world, an author’s work, too, should not suffer an editor’s pen. But oh how I wish that editor had used his or her pen judiciously before the book was put on bookseller’s shelves. Then I might have declared it to be a masterpiece. As it is, I think it is a wonderful book that everyone needs to read. I particularly love the last paragraph.

[Donna Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite, will reread several times before I die, book. The story telling is very good, the character development excellent. It is inspirational as you see the characters develop and change as a result of their encounters.

[Helen Fredlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uplifting stoty

This book , published long ago, has been my favorite book for about 40 years. Every time I 're- read it, I love it. It begins in misery and ends in triumph. It expresses a spiritual and philosophical idea, as well as telling a fascinating story.

[Janae Mast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and cared about the characters and wanted to see them succeed. It’s about a press agent who cares deeply about fulfilling the wishes of an actress who passed away, including, but not limited to, seeing after the success of her unreleased film. That’s how it begins at least, but the story becomes more about the revival of a little mining town, induced by this actress’s death. I loved the themes of redemption and loyalty, but after a while it became a little repetitive and predictable. There’s a movie after it starring Frank Sinatra as a priest, so maybe I’ll have to give that a try.

[Cyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Break Out the Tissues

A wonderful, old fashioned inspirational story that will lift your heart. A man led by ambition meets a hard working girl with a heart of gold. He helps her; she saves him-and together they change a town. You’ll have to read it to find out how. Enjoy!

[Linda M. Calhoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captured My Attention

Even as a non-believer, I was enthralled by this story and the words chosen to tell it. Thank you Spats!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book. The kind that leaves you smiling both on your face and in your heart when the last page has been reached. It is a story that takes its characters on a journey from loss, loneliness, anger, and greed to one of redemption, courage, love, and community. All because one girl dared to step out of her small world and into a bigger one to have her chance at putting something beautiful out into both, even though she lost her life in the process because of the hold her small world still had on her.

This is a story that both shows and celebrates how one person really can make a difference even if not in the way they always thought they would. One person can be the start of a wave of change.

This was overall an uplifting story and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Candus Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Classic Story for the Ages

I read this book because of the year I was born, 1947.
The kindle version has some wording and punctuation issues, but does not take away the beautiful story of love, human kindness and everyday miracles. Next time I read this will be an actual book and compare it to the movie made in 1948.

[Judith Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best selling book of 1924, this book is very different from what is written today. There are mirarcles throughout and the main character, by his wit and charm, can turn a bad guy to good. It is very easy to see where this is going and to see the end. Still it is very readable. Annoying though is the author's enthusiastic use of the exclamation point!!

[Mary Lauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Catholic, this was hard to read calmly because of how inaccurately it portrayed my Faith and Church, and the blatantly heresies woven in.
However. It was a well written book and a very heartwarming story. If they hadn't chosen the Faith to besmirch, I would give it five stars. But there's no excuse for writing wrongly about the Catholic Church.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most unusual book. I loved it. Walked the razor's edge between syrupy religiosity and the secular world.

[Peggye O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basis for one my favorite movies. It covers more miracles than just the miracle of the turning statues.

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1946, Richard Janney’s novel, Miracle of the Bells, was considered contemporary fiction. Sixty-odd years later, the story can now be considered historical fiction.
The story begins with the arrival of William (White Spats) Dunnigan at the train station of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Dunnigan is overseeing the delivery of the mortal remains of Olga Trotki, a young woman from nearby Coalstown who died much too young in far away Hollywood.
In the first quarter of the book, the tales weaves back and forth between the present time and few years earlier. It explores how Dunnigan and Olga met, and how he fell in love with her.
Dunnigan arrives with five-hundred dollars. That’s what he has to spend to make Olga’s last wishes come true. Olga has recently completed the making of a motion picture, “The Garden of the Soul,” but the producer has refused to release what those who have seen the dailies are calling “the greatest motion picture ever made.”
Dunnigam, a press-agent extraordinaire, put his skills to use. Before he is in Coaltown for a day, Dunnigan arranges to have the bells of St. Michael the Archangel and the other four churches rang continuously for four days. It’s the least he could do. Olga had wanted to have the bells rang when her father, the town drunk, died four years earlier, but she didn’t have the resources that ringing the bell required.
Before Dunnigan is through, there is a series of events that shape this almost five-hundred page novel into a read that will warm any heart. William (White Spats) Dunnigan capitalizes on the bells, a miracle that occurs in the sanctuary of St. Michael’s, crowds that once again return to the small, neglected church, the arrival of major Hollywood stars, and other events that changes the cold, dreary Coaltown.
Miracle of the Bells is out of print now, but if you can buy a used copy or get it at the library, it’s the perfect feel-good book to read during the holiday season.
Review originally appeared at www.armchairinterviews.com

[Sheri-lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book on the list of most popular books (1947).

This reminds me of an old black and white movie that is all cheesy happiness and coincidence and neat and tidy. Literally you could use it as a script -- I could not like the writing style of it as a book. Saccharine.

I didn't like the constant pushing for press, even if Janney was trying to do it from a place of good intentions on the part of his characters. I just couldn't handle it -- God does not need a press agent. Neither does a good priest. Neither does a church. It just smacks of disingenuousness and that unpleasant 'go big or go home' stereotype of Americans. Ugh. The whole time I was really hoping that either Father Paul or the spirit of Olga would bring everyone to their senses -- that bigger is not necessarily better; that life is not all roses and neat and tidy; that you can't ride a wave of good press forever.

Sorry.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was part of a challenge I am doing, so I would not normally have picked it up. It was a nice change of pace for me. It was a sweet story of love, friendship, faith, forgiveness. A little cheesy or non believable at times, but I wanted to believe it. Peaceful and full of kindness. Glad to have read it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for book club and actually liked it, although it was written in the 40's. It was a "feel good" book with a great main character who brought out the best in everyone. Not too realistic that people changed so quickly, but it was a good read.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Miracle of the Bells

I really liked the beginning of the book. I thought it was way too long. It could have been condensed and still gotten the message across.

[Alice Racine]

Went on too long. Rather "preachy".

[Selah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious by nature...nice plotline with way too much melodrama and not much reality. :)