An autobiographical novel. Cronin, an exceptional storyteller, presents what could be his most fascinating account. Based on his personal experiences, the story describes the struggles of a young medical student in Scotland, the painful setback of seeing his dream of becoming a surgeon shattered, his years as a ship’s doctor, and later, his life in a country practice that inspired the fictional Tannochbrae.

The narrative is filled with surprising twists, including the remarkable transition from medicine to literature. Cronin recounts how a novel, written in a moment of despair in simple exercise books, was discarded and then rescued from the trash, only to be eventually accepted by a publisher.