An interesting autobiography of Conan Doyle's years as a young doctor written in fiction form. According to Conan Doyle, all but the part about Lord Saltire is true, just with all the names changed. The novel is written in letter format like the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, and consists of 16 letters written by Stark Munro (Conan Doyle) to his friend. Herbert Swanborough and Conan Doyle notes himself as the editor. In it he mentions his struggles as a new doctor in a decidedly optimistic way. At the beginning of his own practice, he has barely enough money to buy bread and tea to subsist on and sleeps on a wrought iron bed frame using his spare suit of clothes wrapped around his medical book as a pillow. Throughout it all his hope never seems to flag that he will eventually be able to support himself and there is a lightheartedness to his troubles.