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AJ Cronin and The Citadel: did a work of fiction contribute to the foundation of the NHS?
O'Mahoney, S
O'Mahoney, S
Authors
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Date
2012-06
Date Submitted
Keywords
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Subject Mesh
Education, Medical, Continuing
Evidence-Based Medicine
Financing, Government
History, 20th Century
Literature, Modern
London
Medicine in Literature
Propaganda
Scotland
State Medicine
Wales
Evidence-Based Medicine
Financing, Government
History, 20th Century
Literature, Modern
London
Medicine in Literature
Propaganda
Scotland
State Medicine
Wales
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Files
Alternative Titles
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Abstract
AJ Cronin (1896-1981) was a Scottish-born doctor-turned-novelist whose most famous novel is The Citadel, published in 1937. The book describes the struggles of an idealistic young doctor working in Wales and London in the 1920s and 30s. The novel was a global bestseller and its portrayal of a largely ineffective, corruption-ridden system of healthcare is thought to have directly influenced the foundation of the National Health Service in 1948. The Citadel anticipates such phenomena as evidence-based medicine and continuing medical education. This paper argues that the novel was never intended as propaganda for a state-controlled national health service. On the contrary, Cronin was against state control. Analysis of the novel is informed by recent biographical revelations about Cronin and the blurring of the margin between fact and fiction in Cronin's life and work is examined.
Language
en
ISSN
2042-8189
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.4997/JRCPE.2012.218
PMID
22693705