In James Herriot's final collection of veterinary tales, the storyteller describes the busiest years of his practice and the rewards of training a new generationAs an aging James Herriot begins to see more house pets than livestock, the challenge of treating animalsand reassuring their ownersprovides plenty of excitement, mystery, and moments of sheer delight. After building up his own practice, the renowned country vet begins to teach a new generation about a business both old-fashioned and very modern. He watches with pride as his own children show a knack for medicine, and remarks on the talents and quirks of a string of assistants. There is no perfecting the craft, since people and their animals are all remarkably different, but Herriot proves that the best healers are also the most compassionate.