The Citadel (AJ Cronin) Radio 4

[helvella]

The fourth series of The Citadel is now becoming available on Radio 4.

I'm not sure what happened to series 2!

And a great pity that you don't appear able to catch up from the start of series 1.

Afraid I do not know how accessible it is from outside the UK.

I recommend you download all episodes as they become available (if you have enough storage capacity) as they do disappear promptly.

Episode 1 - The Citadel Series 4

Episode 1 of 5

1926: the General Strike has ended yet the miners fight on, but Drs Manson and Denny disagree on this.

Dr Manson and his friend and colleague Dr Denny have different views on whether to support the strike or not...

Return of the drama series set in the Welsh valleys about life before the National Health Service.

Based on AJ Cronin's groundbreaking novel, which is said to have partly inspired the creation of the NHS.

Stars Richard Fleeshman.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bjz95y

Previous posts about The Citadel (which are bound to be out of date):

The Citadel - AJ Cronin

The radio adaptation - series 3 - is starting to be available.

(I wish they'd just make the whole thing available, rather than the dribs and drabs that are being released.)

bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m000...

The Citadel

5 years ago

Just heard a trail for this program on Radio 4 this week.

In the book, there is a thyroid issue (that's the on-topic bit!) - obviously I don't know if it made the cut of translation to radio.

Also, it is interesting as a description of medicine in the pre-war, pre-NHS era. With everything that implies.

10:45 Episode 1

15 Minute Drama, The Citadel Episode 1 of 5

By A J Cronin. Dramatised by Christopher Reason

Episode 1

Andrew Manson, a newly trained doctor arrives in Drineffy, a South Wales mining town. He is to be an assistant to the elderly Dr Page. Manson is idealistic and full of enthusiasm but this is soon tempered by reality when he meets the cynical Dr Denny another doctor in the town.

Set in the mid 1920s and based on A J Cronin's ground breaking novel, which partly inspired Nye Bevan to create the NHS.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09by75r

In my view, the book is well worth reading. I hope the radio dramatisation works well. The book deserves it.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

And a commentary on the book:

Bayliss and Cronin

Not solicitors or a clothes shop - but doctors.

This freely-accessible paper by Sir Richard Bayliss and its discussion of The Citadel by A J Cronin seems well worth a read by anyone interested in the history of thyroid and "myxoedema madness".

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

A copy of The Citadel is available at about two pounds including postage in the UK from abebooks - and I am sure other copies abound. Well worth reading, in my opinion.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[ Added! ]

Internet Archive

A search of the internet archive has several editions of The Citadel. I have signed up so it is difficult to know whether this link will work for others!

archive.org/search.php?quer...

[LindaC]

Thank you for this, helvella - much appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I have to admit to knowing nothing about The Citadel (shame on you SeasideSusie!) but I might be very interested if you tell me who the young man in the picture is 😉😍 and if it's a TV series or film (yes, totally shameless 🤣). I think it's Richard Fleeshman but would rather watch him than just listen to him on the radio!

[helvella Administrator in reply to SeasideSusie]

If they have used the right photo, yes, Richard Fleeshman.

My view is that it is a very readable book. Starts off in Wales - though the south, rather than mid/north.

The full series is available as an audio book from various sources.

There are many videos. I quite liked Ben Cross.

And the full feature film with Robert Donat!

Click on this - google.com/search?q=%22the+... - then click on Video.

I have not gone through checking how many are annoying trailers and how many are more substantial.

Many require some sort of payment and sign-up.

If you buy a book, there are several anthologies which contain some other works by AJ Cronin as well as The Citadel.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to helvella]

I found the BBC series with Ben Cross available as separate episodes on YouTube. Grabbed me right at the start when he diagnosed myxedema madness in one of his first patients. Just finished watching the whole series and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for mentioning this helvella

Now, if they'd like to do a remake starring Richard Fleeshman I'm sure I could happily sit through it all again 😊

[helvella Administrator in reply to SeasideSusie]

It feels wonderful to recommend something and find someone did get something from it.

So pleased.

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

me too

following SeasideSusie 's lead, i've just watched the first two episodes .... blowing up the drains .. radical ... looking forward to the next instalments

[DippyDame]

First read it in the 1960s....loved it!

It also inspired Dr Toft to become a doctor.

The link to Bayliss's paper doesn't work for me I'm afraid.

[helvella Administrator in reply to DippyDame]

The link is to a PDF! You might have downloaded it to your Downloads folder.

[kellyjoan in reply to helvella]

Several versions available as audio book, including the original

amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+citade...