In this novella, Russian writer Gavriil Troepolsky tells the story of Bim, a loyal and intelligent setter, and the people—both kind and cruel—he encounters along his way. Until his very last breath, Bim searches for his owner, who has been rushed to surgery, and on this difficult journey he meets a wide array of characters and destinies. Written with remarkable skill, the novella grips the reader from the first page and never lets go. For this work, the author was awarded the State Prize in 1975.