Dr. Cronin's Bookcase

   

 

    Browsing in the charity bookshop the other day I picked up two novels jacketed in the distinctive yellow of Gollancz, one of them proclaiming "Cheap Wartime Edition on Thin Paper"! Both were by A. J. Cronin, one of those names from the past, vaguely familiar but now largely forgotten. Cronin is probably most famous as the creator of the marvellous Dr. Finlay's Casebook, required viewing - in black and white, of course - in our house when I was young. Its depiction of the life of an idealistic country doctor, his couthy housekeeper Janet and his sage, bluff senior partner Dr. Cameron entertained us and rang very true (my grandfather was himself a country GP and as like Andrew Cruickshank's Dr. Cameron as anything).
    But of his other work I know little, though names ring a bell. What of The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom (the two books I looked at but left in the shop)? Both are still in print, and I see there was a film of the latter starring Gregory Peck. Does anyone read them - or, say, The Stars Look Down much nowadays? Given his popularity in his heyday, Cronin's books sound perfect material for an article in Slightly Foxed (I don't recall their having been featured already) and perhaps an interesting discovery for a lot of us. I may pop back to the shop and see if they are still there.

Comments

[Juxtabook]

I remember reading and enjoying a copy of The Citadel that I found lurking on my parents bookshelves when I was about 15. Never read any since though. You hardly hear of Cronin now as you say, and in fact I rarely am offered his work for sale either.

[Peter the Flautist]

J has read The Citadel a couple of times and was quite positive about it.

[adele geras]

This brings back happy memories. I used to love the yellow Gollancz dust jackets and was a big fan of Cronin as a teenager. Do tell us if they stand up to the ravages of time.

[Barbara]

I've read The Keys of the Kingdom, which is pretty grim stuff.

There are amusing Cronin jokes in Kingsley Amis's I Like It Here. The hero is lecturing foreign lovers of Eng. Lit. who pester him about 'Edgecrown' and 'Sickies of Sickingdom'. (Grim Grin also makes an appearance.) I forget when the book was published, early 1960s, I think, but even then the lecturer marvels that foreigners are interested in such a minor writer. So perhaps your'e right and it's revival time.

[Delyn]

How strange! A couple of weeks ago I thought about A.J.Cronin for some reason or other and wondered if I would still enjoy The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom.I read them as a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed them then so I would be interested to discover what effect they have on me now. I must find out.

[Octavo]

I come (originally) from Dumbarton, where A.J. Cronin was educated. He was born in the nearby village of Cardross. I read several of Cronin's novels when I was (much) younger and I particularly remember Hatter's Castle, which was I believe his first. I remember my mother pointing out to me, when I was a child, a house in Dumbarton which she said was "the real Hatter's Castle." Cronin was a very good storyteller, whose work, in my opinion is well worth reading. It may have dated somewhat, but is nonetheless still rewarding. His current obscurity is undeserved. For an initial introduction to his life and work, one could do worse than visit (the somewhat under-rated) Wikipedia.

[Lisa W]

I also read The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom years ago, although I do not recall much about them. Strangley enough, I have been watching Dr. Finlay on DVD. It was the series filmed in the 90's, starring Ian Bannen and David Rintoul. In fact, I thought of you Karen, when watching one episode in which Dr. Finlay is in a bakery eating an "iced fancy" from a silver cake stand. It was of the sweet, not wooly, variety!

[Lyn Baines]

I've read Keys and Citadel, but many years ago - and in the yellow Gollancz editions, I'm sure! I enjoyed them very much, I'd like to see them available again. By the way, is that Barbara Mullen as Janet in the picture? She was in one of my favourite movies, A Place of One's Own, a very creepy ghost story with Margaret Lockwood & James Mason.

[BooksPlease]

Dr Finlay's Casebook was required viewing in my family's house too. I do remember reading The Citadel but not the detail - it was many years ago! I hope the two books are still in the bookshop when you pop back!

[Bendz]

Hi,

Nice blog.
I've got no idea about the books :(

Good blog.
:-)

[Nan]

You ought to drop the magazine an email and suggest it! I'm quite sure they would do an article, and maybe you could write it!!

[Ann Ciappessoni]

I've read all of Cronins's books - he is one of my favourite authors. He was very influential in changing the way medicine was delivered to the general public post ww2 - ie National Health Service. I got interested in his books through "Dr Finlays Casebook" - best series on TV in the '60's.; and yes Lyn - it is Barbara Mullen with Andrew Cruickshank and Bill Simpson.