THE VALOROUS YEARS by A. J. Cronin.

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THE VALOROUS YEARS by A. J. Cronin. 

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Quintessential Cronin, this grabs one at heart immediately, with hard work of an aspiring medical student and poverty of good Scottish people, countered by a few villains, being at heart of the work. Cronin manages here to include an awareness about state of affairs in central Europe, in the form of a refugee who happens to be a brilliant surgeon, her texts read by aspiring students. 

As gripping as this work is, there is an unpolished quality that belongs to his earlier work, perhaps, especially noticeable in later part, after the protagonist is already a successful and respected professional, about to attempt the top rung of the ladder to success in his professional career. It keeps showing, too, as the old cliche of a dilemma is brought up, related to a worthy country practice vs the top rung. This continues with escalation, too. And while the end is quite satisfying, the not quite true opposition set up between a country practice vs a hospital chair with use of modern technology for diagnosis is, while common in literature and films, still remains a thorn. 

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April 05, 2021 - April 07, 2021.

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