The Citadel

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All of which leads me to point out that “The Citadel” is a novel that was very consciously intended to make a point, namely that the British medical system of Cronin’s day was badly in need of reform. It was a closed shop of self-seeking, poorly educated, change-averse charlatans. Indeed, the book turned out to be a ground-breaking publication that significantly influenced the creation of the British National Health a few years later. Accordingly, it must be judged in terms of its success in that sphere, as a social and political document as much as on its merit as a novel. First published in 1937 and set during the interwar years 'The Citadel' shines a light on the medical establishment in Britain at the time through the eyes of a young newly qualified Scottish doctor. Andrew Manson, takes up his first clinical post as an assistant to a GP in a small Welsh mining community where disease and poverty is rife, sanitation poor and operations are performed on kitchen tables before moving as his career progresses to the fashionable, greedy world of London with its private clinics, hypochondriac patients and rich awards. Manson arrives with a bagful of enthusiasm and idealism but soon comes face to face with the realism of his chosen profession. Cooper, Goolistan (6 April 2015). "Plaque for Notting Hill GP who became celebrated author". My London . Retrieved 15 January 2023. Watt G. The Citadel: A Potent Reminder of Life Before the NHS. BJGP Library: Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(638):480

La drept vorbind suntem statici. Nu ne gândim niciodată la progres, la faptul că facem unele lucruri, dar în realitate nu facem nimic. De ani de zile, ne văicărim, înfierând condițiile mizerabile în care lucrează infirmierele noastre, salariile de foame pe care le primesc. Și am făcut ceva? Ele continuă să fie exploatate, și sunt plătite și azi în același fel." This book is the journey of a young doctor fresh out of college, eager to help everyone with his knowledge and skills who ends up lost in the charm of money and fame and losses all interest in the morals and values he once fought for. This is a story of a woman who fell in love with an honest hardworking doctor who went to great lengths to save lives, only to find him changing for the worse into someone whom they both despised. The story of her struggles to make him realise his mistakes. This is a book about medical ethics and what it means to be a doctor. It is a great read and all aspiring medical students must definitely read this stunning book. A prodigiously fast writer, Cronin liked to average 5,000 words a day, meticulously planning the details of his plots in advance. [7] He was known to be tough in business dealings, although in private life he was a person whose "pawky humour... peppered his conversations," according to one of his editors, Peter Haining. [7] The Most Unforgettable Character I Ever Met: The Doctor of Lennox," Reader's Digest, 35 (September 1939): 26–30.This story of the young Scottish doctor, Andrew Manson, is one inspirational story. Beginning his career as the medical assistant to a doctor in a South Wales mining community, he receives his first blow in the understanding that his learning at the medical school is inadequate to cater to the actual illnesses of the people. Slowly, with the help of a senior colleague and a little practical experience, he develops a scientific method of diagnosis and treatment. But in so doing, he is in for war, for he must face many difficulties since his method is against the traditionally established medical ethics. On top of it, Dr. Manson must face the jealousies and rivalries of the old practitioners who saw him as a threat to their practices. He is driven from place to place, but nowhere could he find his ideal system. Frustrated, he then swims in line with the established system for a time and finds himself slowly drowning in the benefits and money it brings. But one horrible incident wakes up the dormant idealist in him and thereon, he defies the system resorting to the beneficial yet unorthodox more scientific methods of treatment. Letter quoted in obituary of Cronin in Lennox Herald. There is a photocopy of this obituary (undated) at "Cardross and A. J. Cronin Part 3" A. J. Cronin, Adventures in Two Worlds, Chapter 40 ("Why I Believe in God," in The Road to Damascus. Volume IV: Roads to Rome, edited by John O'Brien. London: Pinnacle Books, 1955, pp. 11–18). Beyond This Place ( CBS), featuring Farley Granger, Peggy Ann Garner, Max Adrian, Brian Donlevy, and Shelley Winters

Rivett GC. From Cradle to Grave, the first 50 years of the NHS. London: King’s Fund and www.nhshistory.net 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.Cronin’s life is thus of interest, as it provides the key themes for his fiction: the poor scholarship boy who overcomes bigotry and poverty to qualify as a doctor; the idealistic young doctor struggling against ignorance and a corrupt medical hierarchy; the disillusioned middle-aged man who despite his wealth and comfort, longs for the excitement and moral certainties of his life as a doctor; the devout Catholic who has betrayed his wife and his principles. This process has widened into the arts and humanities generally and there are now numerous organisations and at least one journal covering this area. The use of theatre, dance, the visual arts and creative writing can all improve well-being and happiness. The Citadel..." The Australian Women's Weekly, (9 October 1937) Vol.5 # 18, begin serialization. [19] This is in essence a morality tale and in that guise it stands up very well, even when read from today’s perspective.

The novel is mostly medical fiction, but it is also a good portrayal of a doctor's life, the hardships they face in carrying out their duties, the struggle to keep a decent professional front amidst financial difficulties, and the normal human feelings of love, separation, loss, grief, and hope. The sympathetic presentation of these professional men, showing that they are also humans with feelings in their non-professional capacity is really touching. Cronin may not be a literary genius, but his presentation of them is genuine and heartfelt. Andrew Manson earns readers' sympathy, and though his conduct is not always noble, he is a likable hero, because he feels real and human. And so are the other characters. Even those you don't like are relatable. Reading the story was almost like reading a true story. Mausam ( "Seasons", from the novel The Judas Tree), directed by Gulzar, featuring Sharmila Tagore, Sanjeev Kumar, Dina Pathak, and Om Shivpuriand 1963 – The Ordeal of Dr Shannon ( NBC& ITV), featuring Rod Taylor, Elizabeth MacLennan, and Ronald Fraser Madhura Swapnam (from the novel The Citadel), directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, featuring Jaya Prada, Jayasudha, and Krishnamraju

Cronin may have used the citadel as a metaphor to describe Britain’s dire healthcare situation of his time, but a more optimistic interpretation is that he saw the grand citadel as a vision of what healthcare in Britain could aspire to become. Sabar Uparey (from novel, Beyond This Place), directed by Agradoot, featuring Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Chhabi Biswas, Pahari Sanyal and Nitish MukherjeeThe Citadel ( The Campbell Playhouse CBS), featuring Orson Welles, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ernest Chappell, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, and Ray Collins [22] Works of literature can also be used to change public attitudes to health and illness-related behaviour. Stories can change lives and the power of the word can be significant. One possible scenario is the Contagion theory of behaviour change, which proposes that behaviour can be changed by the passing on (the contagion) of effective stories.