A Crown of Life is a window onto the fascinating life of Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, author of the poem "In Flanders Fields." McCrae served as an artillery & medical officer in the South African War, & until his death, in World War I. After the war, "In Flanders Fields" inspired the sale of poppies to raise funds for disabled ex-servicemen. Covering nearly half a century, A Crown of Life explores the world of John McCrae, including his encounters with such luminaries as Rudyard Kipling, Leo Amery, Sir Alexander Fleming & Stephen Leacock, & serves as a fitting reminder of the high price of freedom.