Through John Smith, a 50-year-old man confined to his room by an attack of gout, Conan Doyle holds forth on a range of subjects -literature, science, religion, war politics- in dialogue either with himself, or with a number of visitors who pass through his room: his doctor, his landlady, a young lady artist, a retired army major who lives in the same house, and the local curate. For a book by such a young man it shows remarkable erudition and exudes confidence, energy and ideas.