Ein Held im Schatten

Dr. Finlay

by A.J. Cronin

Ein Held im Schatten - bk1013; Paul Zolnay Verlag; A.J. Cronin; Paperback; 1980

Genres: Scotland

Hardcover

First published September 1, 1978

About the author

Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish novelist, dramatist, and non-fiction writer who was one of the most renowned storytellers of the twentieth century. His best-known works are The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films. He also created the Dr. Finlay character, the hero of a series of stories that served as the basis for the long-running BBC television and radio series entitled Dr. Finlay's Casebook.
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really hate bashing one of my favorite authors. I absolutely love A.J.Cronin but forgive me...What. Drivel. 

I don't even know what to say, I'm kind of flabbergasted that he could come up with such rot when he's capable of brilliant, brilliant novels. I believe that some authors just shouldn't attempt short stories and that's basically what this is. Each chapter is like a tv episode stripped to its bare bones. The characters have no chance at all to become anything other than paper dolls and the situations/ dialog etc couldn't be more far fetched if an eight year old worked them up on a rainy afternoon.

I'm left wondering, did A.J.Cronin really write this? Was it a joke? Was it a serial for a cheap woman's magazine? A cereal box? Just what is this?

And yet....

He went on to write more short stories "Adventures in a Black Bag" (Incidentally, these two books "Tannochrae" and "Black Bag" were compiled and published as "Dr. Finlay's Casebook"),became a tv miniseries in the 70s, was a HUGE hit  and has recently been remade. So people love it. ((Shrugs))

I actually own the "Adventures of a Black Bag", so someday I'll have to give it a go, but if you're new to Cronin, give this one a miss for now and try one of his amazing novels like "The Citadel". 

Two stars because I think the book does  has a place. On the back of the toilet, but a place nonetheless.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 1 out of 5]

This later collection of Dr Finlay short stories (1978) misses the mark. The language, situations, and characters seem more wooden than earlier books. The tone is sanctimonious and Dr Finlay comes across as misogynistic, patronising, and clueless about women at times. The phrase “she was too plain to ever attract a man” made me wonder which decade the book was published in. The final story about an accomplished young matron whom Finlay, quite frankly, physically assaults, is beyond the pail. For the first half of the story she is a paragon of virtue, for the second half, she is a lying ungrateful gold-digger. It didn’t make sense.

[Chriss Corkscrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

What did I just read? Is this a satire?

Whilst superficially entertaining, this depiction of the sanctimonious, controlling and often vindictive Finlay becoming enmeshed in one unlikely melodramatic situation after another is faintly ridiculous. The fact that these adventures so often end in Finlay weeping the strong and manly tears of the stereotypically dour yet poetic Scotsman as he dwells on how happiness is always denied him just made me laugh.

I also think the author didn’t like women very much. But boy, he just loooved Finlay!

[A13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

В этом сборнике рассказы про доктора Финлея становятся уж совсем условными, простыми, морально правильными и милыми. Злодеи в конце наказаны, доктор делает добрые дела, все его боготворят, слезы умиления скатываются у всех, а уж у читателей - в три ручья. А главное, сердце доктора тут опять свободно, что сталось с богатой медсестрой-невестой из первого сборника неясно.

[Elena Kho · Rating 1 out of 5]

What happened to the good guy Finlay and his respectable auld boss? Why did this continuation turn so cringe and flat?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

See Dr. Finlay’s Casebook.

[Nicola Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the saccharin sweet characters from the television series but a collection of short stories which are funny and more explicit. Janet is harsher and grumpier,Dr Cameron a lazy narcissist and Finlay,himself is hard working,noble heroic and a bit of a prig. No wonder he never marries!!
It is quite dated, although these stories date from 1978 not the 50's but I did recognise these characters from my own childhood in a small Scottish town. I remember the way my mother and her friends talked about a certain Dr Vincent( dreamy) and a Dr.Illingworth( not dreamy," just gies ye an aspirin and tells you tae get on wi' it").

[Liz Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like AJ Cronin's writing usually, but it felt as if he had dashed this out for a hasty TV series. Disappointing.