Best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most popular of all English-language authors.

Extract from Chapter I: 'Gout or rheumatism, Doctor?' I asked. 'A little of both Mr. Smith,' said he. 'And pray, sir, what is the exact difference between them?' I continued under a natural impulse to gain a little knowledge in exchange for the red-hot skewer which was transfixing my right foot. 'Why,' said my good physician, tapping his tortoise-shell snuff box, 'the one is a punishment and the other is a misfortune - one is in the hands of Providence and the other in your own. You can't command the weather which governs your rheumatism, but you can command your appetites which govern your gout.' 'And so,' said I, 'this diabolical pain in my foot is the hybrid form of torture known as rheumatic gout which unites the disadvantages of both diseases to a dash of malignancy all its own.' [you can cut this short if it works better]