I have treasured my 28th edition (published in 1926) for over 20 years. A short book, it is well written, with some archaic language. I suspect Herrick was a painter, his imagery is so vivid. The subject reflects the utopian tendancies in late 19th century New England. But that does not explain why I reread it every year. The story is about a doctor who heals men with broken spirits in his "Inn" in Albany.

The first half is about the Inn and it's Master. The simple telling of the story is moving. I can feel the bracing cold water of the morning swim, smell the fresh mown hay, hear the excited chatter of the table talk, see the glow of the pipes in the night down in the garden. It has some of the feeling of "Lost Horizons", but more real. The Inn is a haven from the cruel world outside, but here the shelter seekers invariably return to the fight. Each time I read it, I yearn to meet the Master and join the "Brethren", if only for a season.

The last half unfolds a different story, not simply a Utopian dream but a psychic conflict between two strong men. (In the psychological, not supernatural sense.) There is no profanity, sex, or violence. The tension is subtle, with an unexpected twist at the end.

This second part of the story illuminates the oft overlooked fact that sharpness of wit and tongue are not (or should not be) the true measure of a man. Yet there is no heavy-handed moral here. The characters are three-dimensional and compelling (for such a short tome).

Though it is not a "religious" book, I always come away from it feeling spiritually refreshed and morally stabilized. I recommend it whole-heartedly.