'[A] classic which will surely become the standard reference for the entire field of cardiovascular surgery...It is unlikely that such a comprehensive and authoritative text, and one written as elegantly, will again appear' - David C. Sabiston, Jr. ' ...it tells how imaginative dreams can paint the canvases of tomorrow' - Journal of the American Medical Association.This book is the first complete history of the development of heart surgery, from the observations of the ancient Greeks to the extraordinary advances of the present day, noted heart surgeon Harris B Shumacker has scoured the vast literature on heart surgery in many languages and succeeded in untangling the complex strands of a fascinating story. An active and respected participant in the last half-century of this history, Shumacker brings to his narrative an expert's insights and a wealth of first-hand experience.With the meticulous care of a surgeon, Shumacker retraces the incremental growth in our knowledge of the human heart and its repair, with clear discussions of each innovative procedure, both the successes and the failures. He pays special attention to clarifying the individual contributions of the many doctors and researchers throughout the world who have played a role in this still-developing story. His book is both a comprehensive history and an important resource for the medical professional and the medical historian.