Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
England, 1924 og frem
Roman i fire dele.
Første del foregår i Blaenelly, en ikke ret stor mineby, hvor mineselskabet sørger for det meste.
Andrew Manson er nyuddannet læge og bliver sendt ud til en isoleret walisisk mineby, Blaenelly. Den gamle læge Edward Page har fået en hjerneblødning og er
Anden del foregår i Aberalaw, hvor lægens embedsbolig "Dalblik" er blevet designet af en tredive mand stor byggekomité.
Indeni fejler huset ikke noget og selv om de ikke har meget at starte på, så ser det godt ud for dem. Den første aften bliver de inviteret hen til doktor Llewellyn, der er supervenlig men også fortæller at lægerne betaler ham tyve procent af deres indtægt. Foreløbigt er Andrew dog godt tilfreds og han får fri så han og Christine kan tage til London og købe møbler. Til gengæld vil Andrew ikke udstede fupattester til minearbejderne, så det går ud over indtjeningen. Han skaffer sig flere fjender ved at rette på sygeplejersker, der gør som de altid har gjort. I fyrre år eller mere. Det går dog også den anden vej. Sygekassesekretæren Owen melder sig som hans patient og lytter til en teori om at antracitstøv måske er farligt på en lumsk måde? Andrew og hans kone begynder at falde til i Aberalaw og får også besøg af Philip, der fortæller at Edward Page er død og at Aneurin Rees sikkert snart overtager enken. En tandlæge Con Boland fortæller at han også betaler Llewellyn tyve procent og Andrew griber chancen og foreslår at de gør oprør. Det bliver dog hurtigt slået ned, men Christine foreslår at han videreuddanner sig. Det er en forfærdeligt slid, men han består eksamen. Da han kommer hjem er der sket en mineulykke, så han når at lave en nødamputering af en arm før han kommer hjem med sin fine eksamen. Christine bliver gravid, men en rådden gangbro ved deres hus giver efter og hun aborterer og kan ikke senere få børn. Andrew begynder at forske i minearbejdernes lungesygdomme og laver lidt eksperimenter med nogle marsvin. Bestyrelsen er lige ved at ville afskedige ham, da han kan vise at han har fået antaget sin doktordisputats om lungesygdomme ved minearbejdere. Nu beder bestyrelsen sig ham så om at blive, hvorefter han siger op.
Tredje del foregår i London hvor han får et job som embedslæge i invalidekommissionen. Det er et skrivebordsjob hvor man ikke skal lave noget særligt, så han siger op ret hurtigt. Nogle måneder senere indgiver kommissionen en udtalelse til parlamentet om støvinhalationsfarerne og æren tilkommer en Maurice Gadsby.
Fjerde del foregår også i London, hvor han opgiver at købe en praksis fordi priserne er helt hen i hegnet. I stedet overtager han et dødsbo efter en dr Foy for 600 pund. I starten går det meget sløjt, men så behandler han en ekspeditrice i et dyrt stormagasin for eksem ved at foreskrive nul medicin, men en diæt. Det hjælper i løbet af en uge og så hjælper hun ham aktivt med at få kunder og forbindelser. Han får en stilling ved et af hospitalerne og begynder at slække på sine principper for at tjene penge og han bilder sig ind at det er for Christine. I virkeligheden vokser de fra hinanden og hun er dybt ulykkelig over det. Til sidst får han dog lede ved sig selv og sine gerninger og sætter praksissen til salg.
Han genvinder Christines kærlighed og beslutter sig for at lave et lægefællesskab med nogle af sine kompetente venner, efter at han har set en af sine societylægevenner slå en patient ihjel med sin inkompetence. Der er så få rigtige sygdomme blandt societyklientelet at det helt bliver overset at nogle af lægerne kun er gode til at spille læger, ikke til fx at operere en underlivssvulst.
Netop som det hele er faldet på plads og praksissen er solgt løber Christine over efter en Liebtauer ost til at fejre det hele med, men på vej tilbage løber hun ud foran en bus og bliver kørt ihjel. Andrew er sønderknust og bedøvet af chok, men efter nogle uger vågner han stille til dåd og begynder at se sig om efter en praksis at dele med vennerne. Imidlertid bliver han forfulgt af en dr Ivory, der har fundet ud af at Andrew har henvist en patient til en hr Richard Stillman, der bruger en pneumothorax behandling mod lungesygdomme og Stillman er ikke læge. Lægerådet indstævner Andrew, men han overbeviser dem og bliver frikendt. Bogen slutter med at Andrew besøger Christines grav og på vej væk ser en lysende sky af form som en borg.
Titlen går på et citat om at livet er som et stormløb på en borg, der ligger oppe på toppen, men som man ikke kan se.
En levnedsskildring, der er nogenlunde realistisk, dvs sikkert peppet op for ikke at kede læserne ihjel. Forfatteren var også lægeuddannet, hvilket hjælper på realismen. Og det er velgørende at Andrews kone siger ham tingene rent ud, selv om hun rent ud ikke spiller den store rolle. I stedet får Cronin lukket op for en hel del kritik af systemet fra før National Health Service trådte i kraft i 1948. Bogen udkom i 1937, så måske har den endda skubbet lidt på udviklingen.
Roman i fire dele.
Første del foregår i Blaenelly, en ikke ret stor mineby, hvor mineselskabet sørger for det meste.
Andrew Manson er nyuddannet læge og bliver sendt ud til en isoleret walisisk mineby, Blaenelly. Den gamle læge Edward Page har fået en hjerneblødning og er
Show More
halvsidigt lammet. Hans kone Blodwen er en pulverheks af værste skuffe og forsøger at snyde Andrew for både mad og løn, selv om han udfører al Edwards arbejde og kun får ca en fjerdedel af lønnen. En anden af byens læger Philip Denny er en fremragende kirurg, men er blevet kynisk og fordrukken af livet i den lille by. Han har dog mange gode ideer, fx får han Andrew med på at sprænge en gammel rådden kloak som spreder tyfussmitte til drikkevandet. Andrew plages af sin faglige viden, som fortæller ham at på nær Philip er byens læger sørgeligt mangelfulde. Andrew udretter et par småmirakler med at genoplive en skindød baby og få en mand i behandling for myxødem i stedet for at hjælpe med at spærre ham inde på en galeanstalt. Blodwen går over stregen da hun beskylder Andrew for tyveri fordi han har fået en pengegave af den taknemmelige fader til den genoplivede baby og beholdt den selv. Og Blodwen ved det, fordi bankdirektøren Aneurin Rees har fortalt hende det! Andrew bliver rasende og truer dem med bål og brand, så de må give ham en undskyldning. Desuden siger han op og Philip får ham til at søge en stilling i den nærliggende by Aberalaw. Han får stillingen og frier til lærerinden Christine Barlow, som han har sværmet for i nogle måneder. Hun siger ja.Anden del foregår i Aberalaw, hvor lægens embedsbolig "Dalblik" er blevet designet af en tredive mand stor byggekomité.
Indeni fejler huset ikke noget og selv om de ikke har meget at starte på, så ser det godt ud for dem. Den første aften bliver de inviteret hen til doktor Llewellyn, der er supervenlig men også fortæller at lægerne betaler ham tyve procent af deres indtægt. Foreløbigt er Andrew dog godt tilfreds og han får fri så han og Christine kan tage til London og købe møbler. Til gengæld vil Andrew ikke udstede fupattester til minearbejderne, så det går ud over indtjeningen. Han skaffer sig flere fjender ved at rette på sygeplejersker, der gør som de altid har gjort. I fyrre år eller mere. Det går dog også den anden vej. Sygekassesekretæren Owen melder sig som hans patient og lytter til en teori om at antracitstøv måske er farligt på en lumsk måde? Andrew og hans kone begynder at falde til i Aberalaw og får også besøg af Philip, der fortæller at Edward Page er død og at Aneurin Rees sikkert snart overtager enken. En tandlæge Con Boland fortæller at han også betaler Llewellyn tyve procent og Andrew griber chancen og foreslår at de gør oprør. Det bliver dog hurtigt slået ned, men Christine foreslår at han videreuddanner sig. Det er en forfærdeligt slid, men han består eksamen. Da han kommer hjem er der sket en mineulykke, så han når at lave en nødamputering af en arm før han kommer hjem med sin fine eksamen. Christine bliver gravid, men en rådden gangbro ved deres hus giver efter og hun aborterer og kan ikke senere få børn. Andrew begynder at forske i minearbejdernes lungesygdomme og laver lidt eksperimenter med nogle marsvin. Bestyrelsen er lige ved at ville afskedige ham, da han kan vise at han har fået antaget sin doktordisputats om lungesygdomme ved minearbejdere. Nu beder bestyrelsen sig ham så om at blive, hvorefter han siger op.
Tredje del foregår i London hvor han får et job som embedslæge i invalidekommissionen. Det er et skrivebordsjob hvor man ikke skal lave noget særligt, så han siger op ret hurtigt. Nogle måneder senere indgiver kommissionen en udtalelse til parlamentet om støvinhalationsfarerne og æren tilkommer en Maurice Gadsby.
Fjerde del foregår også i London, hvor han opgiver at købe en praksis fordi priserne er helt hen i hegnet. I stedet overtager han et dødsbo efter en dr Foy for 600 pund. I starten går det meget sløjt, men så behandler han en ekspeditrice i et dyrt stormagasin for eksem ved at foreskrive nul medicin, men en diæt. Det hjælper i løbet af en uge og så hjælper hun ham aktivt med at få kunder og forbindelser. Han får en stilling ved et af hospitalerne og begynder at slække på sine principper for at tjene penge og han bilder sig ind at det er for Christine. I virkeligheden vokser de fra hinanden og hun er dybt ulykkelig over det. Til sidst får han dog lede ved sig selv og sine gerninger og sætter praksissen til salg.
Han genvinder Christines kærlighed og beslutter sig for at lave et lægefællesskab med nogle af sine kompetente venner, efter at han har set en af sine societylægevenner slå en patient ihjel med sin inkompetence. Der er så få rigtige sygdomme blandt societyklientelet at det helt bliver overset at nogle af lægerne kun er gode til at spille læger, ikke til fx at operere en underlivssvulst.
Netop som det hele er faldet på plads og praksissen er solgt løber Christine over efter en Liebtauer ost til at fejre det hele med, men på vej tilbage løber hun ud foran en bus og bliver kørt ihjel. Andrew er sønderknust og bedøvet af chok, men efter nogle uger vågner han stille til dåd og begynder at se sig om efter en praksis at dele med vennerne. Imidlertid bliver han forfulgt af en dr Ivory, der har fundet ud af at Andrew har henvist en patient til en hr Richard Stillman, der bruger en pneumothorax behandling mod lungesygdomme og Stillman er ikke læge. Lægerådet indstævner Andrew, men han overbeviser dem og bliver frikendt. Bogen slutter med at Andrew besøger Christines grav og på vej væk ser en lysende sky af form som en borg.
Titlen går på et citat om at livet er som et stormløb på en borg, der ligger oppe på toppen, men som man ikke kan se.
En levnedsskildring, der er nogenlunde realistisk, dvs sikkert peppet op for ikke at kede læserne ihjel. Forfatteren var også lægeuddannet, hvilket hjælper på realismen. Og det er velgørende at Andrews kone siger ham tingene rent ud, selv om hun rent ud ikke spiller den store rolle. I stedet får Cronin lukket op for en hel del kritik af systemet fra før National Health Service trådte i kraft i 1948. Bogen udkom i 1937, så måske har den endda skubbet lidt på udviklingen.
Show Less
Genres
Collection
Publication
Kbh Gyldendal 1959 413 s. Tranebog T2
Description
"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 A groundbreaking novel of its time and a National Book Award winner. The Citadel follows the life of Andrew Manson, a young and idealistic Scottish doctor, as he navigates the challenges of practicing medicine across interwar Wales and England. Based on Cronin's own experiences as a physician, The Citadel boldly confronts traditional medical ethics, and has been noted as one of the inspirations for the formation of the National Health Service. The Citadel has been adapted into several successful film, radio, and television productions around the world, including the Oscar-nominated 1938 film starring Ralph Donat, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Richardson, and Rex Harrison.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jtck121166
A good, old-fashioned novel (in the best sense): a story of engaging people doing interesting things, well-told.
The theme is the public health in the UK before the 1948 Act which introduced the National Health service. Incompetence and corruption amongst the medical class are exposed; our hero,
On the human side, we join Manson as a new graduate serving in the Welsh valleys, and follow this pilgrim's progress through triumph and disaster until, in the end, we leave him on the brink of fulfilling his dream: a group medical practice founded with the patients' interests at heart.
Interesting, from an historical perspective; important politically; refreshing artistically.
The theme is the public health in the UK before the 1948 Act which introduced the National Health service. Incompetence and corruption amongst the medical class are exposed; our hero,
Show More
Manson, works doggedly towards his own solutions, soon to be sanctioned in law (after the end of the narrative).On the human side, we join Manson as a new graduate serving in the Welsh valleys, and follow this pilgrim's progress through triumph and disaster until, in the end, we leave him on the brink of fulfilling his dream: a group medical practice founded with the patients' interests at heart.
Interesting, from an historical perspective; important politically; refreshing artistically.
Show Less
LibraryThing member wrichard
The book that shows the courage of Dr Manson, his downfall and redemption. I read a passage of this at school to my English class and brought the house down!
LibraryThing member northandsouth
I don't know what it is about this book, but it just draws the reader in. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book for all those who love a good story about life.
LibraryThing member shefukul
I was completely shocked when Andrew's wife died. One of my favorite books.
LibraryThing member kellyn
This is an exceptionally engaging story of a young, idealistic doctor as he embarks on his medical practice. Dr. Manson joins a practice in a remote, isolated Welsh mining town. It is a baptism by fire. His supervising physician is incapacitated by a stroke and this doctor’s miserly wife
In some ways the decline and redemption of Dr. Manson is too predictable and unrealistic; however Cronin wrote The Citadel in (1937) and for that time this was a revolutionary account of an ordinary man’s life.
Show More
withholds money, support and information from Dr. Manson. Manson’s idealism and enthusiasm carries him through many discouraging, lonely months. Eventually he meets a young school teacher and falls in love. Manson and Christine leave this mining town for another position and again throw themselves into medicine and village life. Eventually Dr. Manson takes his practice to London where he succumbs to the temptations of making money by sacrificing his medical integrity.In some ways the decline and redemption of Dr. Manson is too predictable and unrealistic; however Cronin wrote The Citadel in (1937) and for that time this was a revolutionary account of an ordinary man’s life.
Show Less
LibraryThing member charlie68
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
Show More
until the til the last where it really strengthens into a pretty good heartfelt book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Schmerguls
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
Show More
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. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lace-Structures
Decades ago I read "The Keys to the Kingdom", and knew of this book, but only read it in 2018. I found the class system dreary, and the attitude of the principal doctor toward his wife to be demeaning, and only rarely did Cronin recognize his character's blind spot in this area. Watching the
Show More
downfall of a character is never fun, but I felt no sense of hopefulness that he would climb out of his hole. The magazine format, with its color illustrations and synopsis kept me going. Show Less
LibraryThing member Roarer
I found "The Citadel" a slightly contrived novel in the way it takes the reader through a series of different medical situations in the Britain of the inter-war years, ranging from emergency treatment down a mine to pandering to rich hypochondriacs, and exploring the compounding issues of the lure
Show More
of money and the lack of continuing assessment and training of doctors. This discourse is set within a story of the life of a recently qualified doctor and his wife, jolting through these different settings, but neither of them seem all that real. Whilst the NHS as it has developed may have removed many of the problems identified, and of course treatment has become both more scientific and more technological since Cronin's time, I am reminded of a comment from a friend high up in the NHS that in the 21st century medicine is the only profession in the UK to retain a powerful controlling body of a mediaeval guild, not necessarily acting in the interests of patients. Show Less
LibraryThing member Faradaydon
It was first published 85 years ago, but I've just discovered A.J.Cronin's masterpiece and I'm so happy I did. It's an all-enveloping read, as enticing today as it was when it was first published. No wonder it's never been out of print and has been made into a film, five TV versions, three Indian
Show More
movies and three radio drama series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Castlelass
Set in the 1920s in a Welsh mining town, protagonist Andrew Manson is a newly qualified Doctor of Medicine. He is idealistic and eager to make his mark. He wants to change the traditional ineffective methods and use the latest science in his treatments. He becomes fascinated with analyzing the
This book explores ethics in the medical profession. It portrays doctors of varying competence. Some keep up their skills and others become wedded to traditional remedies. Some compete vigorously with other doctors. The story contains descriptions of diagnoses, medical procedures, and surgeries. Published in 1937, this book was helpful in pointing out changes needed in the UK’s health care system.
Show More
source of miners’ lung diseases. As he moves upward in his career, he loses his idealism and becomes more interested in accumulating wealth. His wife grows disillusioned, wondering what happened to the man she married. This book explores ethics in the medical profession. It portrays doctors of varying competence. Some keep up their skills and others become wedded to traditional remedies. Some compete vigorously with other doctors. The story contains descriptions of diagnoses, medical procedures, and surgeries. Published in 1937, this book was helpful in pointing out changes needed in the UK’s health care system.
Show Less
LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
"If we go on trying to make out that everything's wrong outside the profession and everything is right within, it means the death of scientific progress."
First published in 1937 and set during the interwar years 'The Citadel' shines a light on the medical establishment in Britain at the time
Archibald Joseph Cronin was born in Cardross, Dunbartonshire, in 1896, and was destined either for the Church or medicine: he chose medicine. Cronin trained in various hospitals in Scotland, Dublin and South Wales. He was appointed as a Medical Inspector of Mines and reported on coal-dust inhalation and lung disease before subsequently moving to London and private practice. This novel is therefore semi-autobiographical in nature as he draws on his professional career as a background.
The novel has two specific areas of emphasis. Firstly, the work of the doctor in a poor community and how his work is transformed when he moves to a city and private practice. Secondly the competence, or incompetence, of doctors and their need to keep their skills up to date. Manson is often critical of the quality of other doctors' work.
In the small Welsh mining village, the men, as miners, can change doctors through a company insurance scheme whenever they wish, their choices often based on the doctor's own popularity rather than his ability. Manson is outspoken and critical of the way in which the service is funded which lands him in trouble.
But the climax comes when Manson is asked to treat the daughter of an old friend who has tuberculosis. Manson has her admitted to an established London hospital but when the treatment provided there shows no signs of benefit he recommends a new therapy. His senior disagrees and Manson removes his young patient to a newly built hospital with an un-medically qualified boss. However, despite the success of the treatment and his patient's subsequent discharge, when Manson’s London colleagues hear about this he is referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) to be investigated with the potential outcome of him being struck off the Medical Register.
In many respects this novel is a creature of its time. Cronin identified many of the issues in clinical practice which needed to be tackled , including better supervision of young doctors, postgraduate education programmes and the novel's popularity along with the cinematic portrayal helped towards the establishment of the NHS a decade or so later. However, some of the issues, in particular affordability, are still relevant today.
This isn't perhaps great literature. Manson despite his revolutionary zeal isn't always a particularly likeable character, he is often, selfish, arrogant and uncaring, but Cronin still manages to present an interesting and entertaining story. I am always interested in novels that feature social history and this book had the power to change public attitudes and behaviour towards health as well as professional thinking and for that reason alone deserves to be more widely read today.
First published in 1937 and set during the interwar years 'The Citadel' shines a light on the medical establishment in Britain at the time
Show More
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.Archibald Joseph Cronin was born in Cardross, Dunbartonshire, in 1896, and was destined either for the Church or medicine: he chose medicine. Cronin trained in various hospitals in Scotland, Dublin and South Wales. He was appointed as a Medical Inspector of Mines and reported on coal-dust inhalation and lung disease before subsequently moving to London and private practice. This novel is therefore semi-autobiographical in nature as he draws on his professional career as a background.
The novel has two specific areas of emphasis. Firstly, the work of the doctor in a poor community and how his work is transformed when he moves to a city and private practice. Secondly the competence, or incompetence, of doctors and their need to keep their skills up to date. Manson is often critical of the quality of other doctors' work.
In the small Welsh mining village, the men, as miners, can change doctors through a company insurance scheme whenever they wish, their choices often based on the doctor's own popularity rather than his ability. Manson is outspoken and critical of the way in which the service is funded which lands him in trouble.
But the climax comes when Manson is asked to treat the daughter of an old friend who has tuberculosis. Manson has her admitted to an established London hospital but when the treatment provided there shows no signs of benefit he recommends a new therapy. His senior disagrees and Manson removes his young patient to a newly built hospital with an un-medically qualified boss. However, despite the success of the treatment and his patient's subsequent discharge, when Manson’s London colleagues hear about this he is referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) to be investigated with the potential outcome of him being struck off the Medical Register.
In many respects this novel is a creature of its time. Cronin identified many of the issues in clinical practice which needed to be tackled , including better supervision of young doctors, postgraduate education programmes and the novel's popularity along with the cinematic portrayal helped towards the establishment of the NHS a decade or so later. However, some of the issues, in particular affordability, are still relevant today.
This isn't perhaps great literature. Manson despite his revolutionary zeal isn't always a particularly likeable character, he is often, selfish, arrogant and uncaring, but Cronin still manages to present an interesting and entertaining story. I am always interested in novels that feature social history and this book had the power to change public attitudes and behaviour towards health as well as professional thinking and for that reason alone deserves to be more widely read today.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1937
Physical description
413 p.; 18.3 cm
Local notes
Omslag: Ted Passanissi
Omslaget viser en klassisk lægeskikkelse med stetoskop og hvid kittel
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "The citadel" af Peter Christiansen
Gyldendals Tranebøger, bind 2
Side 94: Jeg kan ikke holde Dem ud længere. De er en ækel, gerrig, egoistisk, grådig parasit. De er psykopat.
Side 163: Jeg nærer ikke noget ønske om at være gift med en helgen, så for min skyld skal du ikke anlægge glorie, jeg har nok at polere i huset endda.
Omslaget viser en klassisk lægeskikkelse med stetoskop og hvid kittel
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "The citadel" af Peter Christiansen
Gyldendals Tranebøger, bind 2
Side 94: Jeg kan ikke holde Dem ud længere. De er en ækel, gerrig, egoistisk, grådig parasit. De er psykopat.
Side 163: Jeg nærer ikke noget ønske om at være gift med en helgen, så for min skyld skal du ikke anlægge glorie, jeg har nok at polere i huset endda.
Similar in this library
Pages
413
DDC/MDS
| 823.912 |