Archibald Joseph Cronin (1896–1981) was born in Scotland, graduated from the University of Glasgow, and worked as a doctor in South Wales and London. But his true calling became literature, to which he devoted himself after the resounding success of his first novel «The Citadel». Among other books by A. Cronin, the most famous are «The Stars Look Down», «The Citadel», «The Young Years», «Shannon's Way», «The Keys of the Kingdom», «The Crucifixion Memorial», «Three Loves». The brightest novels belong to the category of bestsellers, which have sold in large editions all over the world; more than 30 adaptations have been made based on Cronin's works. However, it cannot be said that by leaving medical practice, Archibald Cronin forever parted with medicine. This profession, the problems associated with it, and the challenges of the time always awakened the creative imagination of the writer, so the main character of his books often became a talented and ambitious doctor - someone to whom the author could convey his ideas, views, and pursuits. Obsessed with his beloved work is Duncan Stirling, the hero of the story «Brilliant Years». Despite his mutilated hand, he is determined to achieve worldwide fame in the medical field. Harvey Leith dreams of this too («Gran Canaria»). A gifted doctor and researcher, confident that his discovery will revolutionize science, he faces a brutal failure and heads to the Canary Islands to start from scratch... In the short story «The Local Doctor» is told a romantic and thrilling story of doctor Robert Murray and nurse Mary, who arrive on a remote Caribbean island on the eve of ominous events... For the first time in Russian!
