The Secret of Dr. Kildare

In the Secret of Dr. Kildare by Max Brand, Dr. Leonard Gillespie is about to start an important research project at Blair General Hospital to improve the use of a Sulfa drug, Sulfapyridine, as a cure for pneumonia with the help of his assistant, Dr. James Kildare. Paul Messenger, a Wall Street tycoon, asks for Gillespie's help in diagnosing the drastic, sudden personality changes that occur in his daughter Nancy. Gillespie assigns Kildare to pose as an old friend of the family to observe Nancy.

Max Brand is the best known pseudonym of Frederick Schiller Faust (1892–1944), an American author known primarily for his classic westerns. Faust was prolific, producing not only westerns but also poetry, screenplays, and a number of detective novels. Brand's style is characterized by fast-paced narratives, a lean prose, and an uncanny ability to bring to life the frontier experience. Among his many works, 'The Secret of Dr. Kildare' stands out as a departure from his usual fare, illustrating his versatility as a writer. Although Max Brand is often associated with the Western frontier, 'The Secret of Dr. Kildare' is part of a series of medical dramas featuring the character Dr. Kildare, which he wrote under the name Max Brand, amongst various others (House, 1938). Faust's ability to capture the imagination of his audience, regardless of genre, demonstrates his masterful storytelling and deep understanding of human nature. Despite the transition from Westerns to medical drama, Brand did not abandon the romanticism and sense of adventure that defined his work, he merely transposed these themes to the corridors of hospitals and the complexities of urban life. Brand's contribution to American literature was cut short by his death during World War II as a war correspondent, but his work continues to capture the hearts of readers and his influence persists.