Coming from a long line of doctors, it seemed natural that Edward Livingston Trudeau would follow in that path. Never did he dream that only shortly after returning from his honeymoon in 1871, he would be diagnosed with tuberculosis. Despite being devastated by the news, he spent the rest of his life in the research and treatment of tuberculosis, establishing the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium at Saranac Lake. His laboratory there was the first in the United States dedicated to a better understanding of the disease. In this intensely interesting, inspiring, and often witty memoir, Dr. Trudeau relates the trials and victories of his professional and personal life. His long marriage was one of the bedrocks of his life. Among his most celebrated patients was author Robert Louis Stevenson, with whom he became friends. He also mentions an evening with Stevenson and Libby Custer (widow of General George Armstrong Custer) that was highly entertaining.