Edward Rankin confides his conflicts, needs and introspections only to his diary. In contrast to the brilliant, well-poised surgeon observed by his patients and friends, his own mirror reflects a trouble inner life. In turmoil over the loss of a deep love and a world challenged by global outrage, Edward moves from the operating theatre to war in foreign lands to follow the difficult journey of his soul. In a moment of desperation, Edward Rankin strikes a bargain that exacts a price whose value he alone can measure. "Conversations of Silence" are the muted voices and silent echoes of desire and hope that live in the recessed of the heart. In this novel S. Harold Nickerson, MD, draws upon his own long experience in the healing arts and the teaching profession.