CRONIN, A. J. (1896-1981). The Citadel, London, 1937, original buckram, dust-jacket. FIRST EDITION.

CRONIN, A. J. (1896-1981).  The Citadel. London: Victor Gollancz, 1937. 8vo (196 x 130mm). Half title (some very faint marginal browning). Original black buckram, spine lettered in gilt (lightly bumped), dust-jacket with price of 8/6 on backstrip (piece torn away from head of backstrip with loss of letters, backstrip browned, some fraying and chipping). FIRST EDITION of the author's fifth and most famous novel which was based on his experiences of practising medicine in the mining communities of South Wales. With its trenchant criticism of the poor state of medical care in Britain at the time, it was a catalyst for the foundation of the N.H.S. a decade later.