ABSTRACT
In pursuing an understanding of teachers’ lives and careers, I have focused on an individual life story to highlight some contemporary themes. A number of these themes have been recently elucidated in the Professional Network Report (2002–8) covering seven European countries. These themes can be easily uncovered in a wide range of places and in all of the caring professions of the public services. In the past few years, I have had the opportunity to travel extensively and to interview a varied set of professional workers.
