An elderly Chinese immigrant must sacrifice his demented wife's well-being to satisfy his son's authority. A psychiatrist who advocates for the underserved may herself be crazy. A gay doctor learns very different lessons about family from his life and his work, and a young veteran's injuries become a metaphor for the rest of his life.
Set in the neighbourhoods, hospitals and nursing homes of San Francisco, A History of the Present Illness explores the role of stories in medicine, creates a world pulsating with life and introduces a striking new literary voice.
