The Citadel (1937)

I started reading this book on Feb 27, 1945. On that day I said: "Am reading A. J. Cronin's The Citadel. It Is about a doctor in Wales. Very good. Better than his The Keys of the Kingdom: faster moving and more compact. Although one can sure tell the similarity . Cronin is an expert at frustrated character delineation. On March 2, 1945, I said: "It is 12:30 A.M. I sat up till now to finish The Citadel. It was very good. Such a book is rare. It simply carries one along I doubt if Cronin's ever done anything better. ( )

The character Ida Sherrington, who ran "the most fashionable nursing home in London" is a thinly disguised portrayal of Almina, Countess of Carnarvon, 1876-1969, whose private hospital - for the rich and famous - was situated at 7-9 Portland Place, London. The establishment flourished from 1927 until the outbreak of war in 1939. More details are available from the researcher Will Cross, who is currently compiling a biography of Almina, Lady Carnarvon. williecross@aol.com ( )

A number of the stories in the book are similar to stories in the autobiographical Adventures in Two Worlds. About a doctor and his life just starting out in the mines of south Wales to classy West End London. Characters could use a little more depth especially the main ones. A fairly weak plot until the til the last where it really strengthens into a pretty good heartfelt book. ( )

This thrilling novel of a doctor's life has been the subject of a Mobil Masterpiece Theatre dramatic series on PBS. "Cronin's distinguished achievement. . . . No one could have written as fine, honest, and moving a study of a young doctor as "The Citadel" without possessing great literary taste and skill".--"The Atlantic Monthly". ( )

This deeply moving novel has been a favorite of mine since I read it in my mid-teens while working towards becoming a doctor myself. I couldn't put it down and I'm prepared to admit that I cried more than once, particularly towards the end. I agree that the story is a little predictable but it's so well written that it doesn't matter. 'The Citadel' is one of the classics of twentieth century British fiction; as important, in its own way, as 'Animal Farm' or 'Nineteen Eighty-four'. I think everyone should read it, particularly modern critics of the NHS who (as collective memory fades) seem to need reminding of what came before. They might also learn a little humility.

My wife has just finished reading it ('its my new favorite novel') and she came across a few technical terms with which some readers may not be familiar. I feel so strongly about this book that I will post a short glossary in the Comments section, which I hope that other readers will find useful. ( )