The Story
The first fulllength biography of an eminent but often neglected writerA. J. Cronin, author of some of the bestloved novels of the 20th century and the creator of Dr Finlay(basis of a BBC show), has been unjustly overlooked by literary biographers. This biography recounts the story of Cronins Scottish childhood as the son of a Protestant mother and Catholic father, his subsequent medical career, and ultimately his rise to literary prominence, emphasizing throughout the importance of holding at arms length many of the apocryphal tales that have accumulated around the memory of the author of The Citadel, Hatters Castle, and The Stars Look Down, many of which are based on mistaken autobiographical readings of Cronins fiction itself. Incorporating an account of Cronins tempestuous relationship with his publisher, Victor Gollancz, and some startling revelations about the mental illness, betrayal, and forbidden affection at the heart of Cronins loveless marriage, this timely and moving book paints a clear portrait of both Cronin the writer and Cronin the man.
Description
The first fulllength biography of an eminent but often neglected writerA. J. Cronin, author of some of the bestloved novels of the 20th century and the creator of Dr Finlay(basis of a BBC show), has been unjustly overlooked by literary biographers. This biography recounts the story of Cronins Scottish childhood as the son of a Protestant mother and Catholic father, his subsequent medical career, and ultimately his rise to literary prominence, emphasizing throughout the importance of holding at arms length many of the apocryphal tales that have accumulated around the memory of the author of The Citadel, Hatters Castle, and The Stars Look Down, many of which are based on mistaken autobiographical readings of Cronins fiction itself. Incorporating an account of Cronins tempestuous relationship with his publisher, Victor Gollancz, and some startling revelations about the mental illness, betrayal, and forbidden affection at the heart of Cronins loveless marriage, this timely and moving book paints a clear portrait of both Cronin the writer and Cronin the man.
