Martin Stephen's "Diary Of A Stroke" is one of the first books to give a blow by blow account of what having a stroke means. He describes how he suffered and how he was treated. Like most patients he was put on a general ward rather than on a specialised stroke unit. But specialised units save lives and help people recover more of their old selves. Forget the high skill high tech medicine we love on House and Casualty. Martin Stephen was put on a ward which was dirty, where the nurses were not very motivated and therapy was something you might get next week. Hope was not much in evidence. He describes his physical and emotional battles to survive with insight and feeling. He charts how his personality changed - and he pays tribute to his wife and sons. Without them it would have been bleak. This is a moving and important book. Martin Stephen is an accomplished writer - author of some best selling thrillers - but he has never before written such a personal book.