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All Creatures Great and Small #8
Every Living Thing
For more than twenty years, James Herriot has captivated millions of readers and television viewers with tales of the triumphs, disasters, pride and sometimes heartache that filled his life as a vet in the Yorkshire Dales.
Every Living Thing shines with the storytelling magic that has made him a favourite the world over. It also reveals more of the real James Herriot than ever before.
Here is a book for all those who find laughter and joy in animals, and who know and understand the magic of wild places and beautiful countryside.
Every Living Thing shines with the storytelling magic that has made him a favourite the world over. It also reveals more of the real James Herriot than ever before.
Here is a book for all those who find laughter and joy in animals, and who know and understand the magic of wild places and beautiful countryside.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 1992
About the author
James Herriot
314 books2,939 followersJames Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, OBE, FRCVS also known as Alf Wight, an English veterinary surgeon and writer. Wight is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories, often referred to collectively as All Creatures Great and Small, a title used in some editions and in film and television adaptations.
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 851 reviews
February 5, 2016
What a joy to discover I had one more unread book to read by legendary vet and author James Herriot! I thought I'd read this one back when I was downing these books like they were water, but I guess I missed it. Many of the stories are familiar, but I realized that's probably because they were used in the tv series, all the episodes of which I've seen a couple times over.
Every Living Thing has all the wonderful goodness of the first four books in the series. Plenty of veterinarian triumphs and failures with that human-to-animal and vice versa connection ever present in Herriot's work. The remote English windswept countryside comes to living-breathing life as a backdrop to the well-described trials and tribulations of the vet, the farmers he served and the cows, horses, dogs, cats, sheep, etc etc etc that so enveloped their lives.
Once I realized I hadn't read this one before I really started to get into it. After all, this is probably the last Herriot book I'd ever read. I've loved them so very much that I wanted to learn more about his world. I went online and found the town of Thirsk, UK, which I'd once driven through in search of the veterinarian practice where he worked. I didn't find it then, back in ye olden pre-smart phone days, but I found it now on Google Street View, which even allows you to step inside the house and have a look around! I also read a Wiki page to two about Herriot and his books, and came to find out that many of the characters I suspected were completely fictional were actually real! Of course the names have been changed, but I was surprised that they were actual people, because the way Herriot portrayed them, they seemed too ridiculous to be true. I'm thinking mainly of "Mrs. Pomphrey". I learned the sad news that back when I originally read these most of the people, including the writer himself, were dying of old age, ailments and accidents. Bummer.
But always, Herriot balanced the happy with the sad, and Every Living Thing strikes that balance perfectly. It's a great finish to a great series!
Every Living Thing has all the wonderful goodness of the first four books in the series. Plenty of veterinarian triumphs and failures with that human-to-animal and vice versa connection ever present in Herriot's work. The remote English windswept countryside comes to living-breathing life as a backdrop to the well-described trials and tribulations of the vet, the farmers he served and the cows, horses, dogs, cats, sheep, etc etc etc that so enveloped their lives.
Once I realized I hadn't read this one before I really started to get into it. After all, this is probably the last Herriot book I'd ever read. I've loved them so very much that I wanted to learn more about his world. I went online and found the town of Thirsk, UK, which I'd once driven through in search of the veterinarian practice where he worked. I didn't find it then, back in ye olden pre-smart phone days, but I found it now on Google Street View, which even allows you to step inside the house and have a look around! I also read a Wiki page to two about Herriot and his books, and came to find out that many of the characters I suspected were completely fictional were actually real! Of course the names have been changed, but I was surprised that they were actual people, because the way Herriot portrayed them, they seemed too ridiculous to be true. I'm thinking mainly of "Mrs. Pomphrey". I learned the sad news that back when I originally read these most of the people, including the writer himself, were dying of old age, ailments and accidents. Bummer.
But always, Herriot balanced the happy with the sad, and Every Living Thing strikes that balance perfectly. It's a great finish to a great series!
January 4, 2021
The final instalment of James Herriot's (Alfred Wight's) All Creatures Great and Small series, Every Living Thing is indeed a grand farewell for and to the author's veterinarian memoirs, not only revisiting the familiar (James Herriot's dealings with his partner Siegfried Farnon, the latter's absentmindedness and sometimes mercurial temperament, the many animal cases seen and treated, with often positive but also at times negative and sad outcomes, and with familiar characters like eccentric but sweet Mrs. Pumphrey/Tricki Woo and archvillains, however also somewhat darkly humorous Mr. Sidlow and family making an appearance) but also introducing novel characters and scenarios (such as the escapades of John Crooks and especially the antics of Calum Buchanan, the aptly named vet-with-the badger).
And while there has always been ample humour, and even some satire included in the All Creatures Great and Small series as a whole, for me personally, my two favourite laugh-out-loud episodes of the series in its entirety do indeed and in fact occur in Every Living Thing, namely Wolfie the vicious dog's misleading tailwagging fooling and apprehending the callous thieves who have been preying on Darrowby seniors and Bernard Wain, as the eponymous and totally harmless Cisco Kid, getting apprehended by the local police after he forgets to remove the bandana like mask he always dons to guard against offensive barnyard odours (and then goes out for fish and chips clad like this, of course arousing a bit of official suspicion, so much so that James Herriot must vouch for poor Bernard, explaining to the police officer that Bernard is unable to stomach bad farmyard smells and was so traumatised by James Herriot having to "cleanse" a cow that he simply forgot he was wearing a mask before going out for his one main joy, fish and chips).
Now interstingly enough, when I first read Every Living Thing in 1992 (a hardcover edition I had purchased soon after publication), and by then having become well aware of the fact that James Herriot's real name was Alfred Wight and that his memoirs often did stretch the truth and were thus at best only semi-autobiographical, I immediately but it turns out in total error assumed that especially the character of Calum Buchanan and his menagerie of diverse animals was most probably and likely massively exaggerated. However, when I perused Jim Wight's brilliant and poignant biography of his father, The Real James Herriot a few years ago, it is indeed presented that almost ALL of Calum Buchanan's (Brian Nettleton in real life) eccentricities, including him always appearing with a badger on his shoulder, even on veterinarian calls, are absolute and bona fide reality (with the only but main difference being that Every Living Thing does not mention that Brian Nettleton tragically died in a car accident in Nova Scotia in 1990).
Laughter and tears, joy and heartbreak, entertainment and thought-provoking authorial musings on life, on animals, on humanity in general, Every Living Thing is a lovely, but also somewhat saddening and sobering conclusion to the All Creatures Great and Small series, saddenining in particular because we all know that Alfred Wight died of prostate cancer in 1995 and that Every Living Thing thus truly represents the author's swan song so to speak, and that there will obviously and unfortunately not be any further James Herriot memoirs.
And while there has always been ample humour, and even some satire included in the All Creatures Great and Small series as a whole, for me personally, my two favourite laugh-out-loud episodes of the series in its entirety do indeed and in fact occur in Every Living Thing, namely Wolfie the vicious dog's misleading tailwagging fooling and apprehending the callous thieves who have been preying on Darrowby seniors and Bernard Wain, as the eponymous and totally harmless Cisco Kid, getting apprehended by the local police after he forgets to remove the bandana like mask he always dons to guard against offensive barnyard odours (and then goes out for fish and chips clad like this, of course arousing a bit of official suspicion, so much so that James Herriot must vouch for poor Bernard, explaining to the police officer that Bernard is unable to stomach bad farmyard smells and was so traumatised by James Herriot having to "cleanse" a cow that he simply forgot he was wearing a mask before going out for his one main joy, fish and chips).
Now interstingly enough, when I first read Every Living Thing in 1992 (a hardcover edition I had purchased soon after publication), and by then having become well aware of the fact that James Herriot's real name was Alfred Wight and that his memoirs often did stretch the truth and were thus at best only semi-autobiographical, I immediately but it turns out in total error assumed that especially the character of Calum Buchanan and his menagerie of diverse animals was most probably and likely massively exaggerated. However, when I perused Jim Wight's brilliant and poignant biography of his father, The Real James Herriot a few years ago, it is indeed presented that almost ALL of Calum Buchanan's (Brian Nettleton in real life) eccentricities, including him always appearing with a badger on his shoulder, even on veterinarian calls, are absolute and bona fide reality (with the only but main difference being that Every Living Thing does not mention that Brian Nettleton tragically died in a car accident in Nova Scotia in 1990).
Laughter and tears, joy and heartbreak, entertainment and thought-provoking authorial musings on life, on animals, on humanity in general, Every Living Thing is a lovely, but also somewhat saddening and sobering conclusion to the All Creatures Great and Small series, saddenining in particular because we all know that Alfred Wight died of prostate cancer in 1995 and that Every Living Thing thus truly represents the author's swan song so to speak, and that there will obviously and unfortunately not be any further James Herriot memoirs.
June 27, 2013
No matter how many times I read James Herriot's excellent books, I never get tired of them. After at least ten readings, each one still has the power to make me laugh and cry, and they're all the better for the familiarity I now have with his stories. I'm pretty sure that when I'm old and grey and full of sleep, I'll be reading these books and chuckling about the time Tristan created a kitchen explosion while trying to light the fire, and crying for each of the old dogs that never got better and had to be put to sleep. And I'm also sure I'll still feel a pang of regret that I never was a country vet in Yorkshire, and never got to go on rounds with Mr Herriot, jumping out to open gates on farm visits and chatting companionably in the car with him between calls. His evident love and appreciation for animals, the Yorkshire countryside and everyone he encountered makes these books an absolute joy to read and they will always have pride of place on my bookshelves.
May 19, 2023
Everything James Herriot wrote is pure gold and this book is no exception. If you've read any of his previous works, you know what you'll find inside - lots of heartwarming (and often humorous) short stories about his work as a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales. Every Living Thing is the final book in his All Creatures Great and Small series, and while I think I enjoyed the earlier books ever so slightly more (his young and inexperienced days are simply the best), these stories set during his more established years are also cozy and delightful reads. James Herriot has been one of my favorite authors since I was a kid, and I highly recommend this book (or any of his other works) to any animal lovers out there.
July 7, 2019
Most people know that James Herriot wrote about his life as a Yorkshire country vet in the 1930's, 40's, and this one, which took place in the 50's. When my children were small, we read and re-read a beautiful children’s Treasury edition of the Herriot stories. We all loved these stories, our son especially. Honestly, if I could, I would buy a copy of this for every family.
Herriot’s descriptions of Yorkshire are so delightful that four years ago, when we were traveling in England, we spent a few nights in Thirsk (known as “Darrowby” in his books) and we visited the Herriot museum (“The World of James Herriot”). The museum is the actual surgery where the stories take place. We stayed at a cozy little B&B in Thirsk. The owners grew up knowing James Herriott and his family. They all lived down the street from one another. The Herriot children, who are now adults in their seventies, went to school with owners of the B&B. They are friends still.
We took this picture of the church where James Herriot and his wife got married. It’s just down the street from the Herriot Museum.
Although I liked this book very much, it wasn’t my favorite. It’s the last one in the series. I’ve enjoyed them all and feel sad that as with all good things, this too, had to come to an end.
Herriot’s descriptions of Yorkshire are so delightful that four years ago, when we were traveling in England, we spent a few nights in Thirsk (known as “Darrowby” in his books) and we visited the Herriot museum (“The World of James Herriot”). The museum is the actual surgery where the stories take place. We stayed at a cozy little B&B in Thirsk. The owners grew up knowing James Herriott and his family. They all lived down the street from one another. The Herriot children, who are now adults in their seventies, went to school with owners of the B&B. They are friends still.
We took this picture of the church where James Herriot and his wife got married. It’s just down the street from the Herriot Museum.
Although I liked this book very much, it wasn’t my favorite. It’s the last one in the series. I’ve enjoyed them all and feel sad that as with all good things, this too, had to come to an end.
December 20, 2021
Sadly, this is the last book in the All Creatures Great And Small series by James Herriot. This book along with all the others in the series has been so much fun to read. There have been many laugh out loud moments and there have been quite a few times when I was reaching out for a tissue. The whole series has beautiful descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside which you fall in love with and with relatable characters, including all the animals these books are a must-read. Highly recommended.
November 1, 2019
The final book written by James Herriot, Every Living Thing reads like his very first book All Creatures Great And Small. It caught my interest right away and held it through every page. I could barely put it down, as you can see by how quickly I went through it. Insomnia helped a bit, but that was certainly not the only reason for such a quick reading. This book had all the charm of the first one, with stories that brought both tears and laughter. Not to mention great characters like new assistant Calum Buchanan and his badger, or the farrier who could handle any horse but was nervous about dogs.
Ten years after publishing The Lord God Made Them All, Herriot gave the world his last book. It is a charmer, magical and moving. We get to see Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki-Woo again for the first time since ACGAS, and we meet plenty of other lovely characters human and animal. For me it was a return to something that had slipped away a bit in the last couple of titles. The writing lived and breathed again: Every Living Thing truly felt alive in a way that the last couple of books did not.
I had the same reaction to this book that I have every time I read ACGAS. At the end of the final chapter I was ready to go back to page one and start all over again. It was the perfect way to finish off my Herriot marathon.
Ten years after publishing The Lord God Made Them All, Herriot gave the world his last book. It is a charmer, magical and moving. We get to see Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki-Woo again for the first time since ACGAS, and we meet plenty of other lovely characters human and animal. For me it was a return to something that had slipped away a bit in the last couple of titles. The writing lived and breathed again: Every Living Thing truly felt alive in a way that the last couple of books did not.
I had the same reaction to this book that I have every time I read ACGAS. At the end of the final chapter I was ready to go back to page one and start all over again. It was the perfect way to finish off my Herriot marathon.
July 26, 2009
I had to buy a second copy of this book when I rashly lent the first copy to my mum. Should have known she'd never give it up! I wrote to James Herriot to tell him how much I enjoy his books. He wrote back with a charming letter, saying that although he was no longer in the best of health, hearing from people who love animals and the countryside meant so much to him. He died 2 weeks later. : (
April 7, 2018
I hope I never tire of his books.
October 7, 2021
This is the last in this fabulous series and one I throughly enjoyed as I did all the others in this endearing series. Takes you back to a gentler time in the Yorkshire Dales. Where farmers worked all hours and vets were on call out day and night. A truly lovely book.
March 21, 2021
After watching the newest production of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS, I wanted to revisit the books that I loved so much years ago. This book was published about 20 years after the original four U.S. editions and I wasn’t sure if I had ever read it or not. I’m still not sure about that but it was delightful to read these stories. A part of the books has always been Herriot’s love of the Yorkshire countryside. Now that I’ve been to England, I can picture that beautiful scenery more vividly. I can’t wait for season 2 of the new series.
February 22, 2014
I love all James Herriot books and this was no different. It's like eating comfort food, but not fattening.
December 12, 2017
This sale ended, as well, but I really hope you'll read this series, no matter where you get it.
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They must be going down the list of Herriot's books and putting them each on sale in turn. This one's now dropped to only $1.99, and it's just as good as all the others. Grab your copy here.
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They must be going down the list of Herriot's books and putting them each on sale in turn. This one's now dropped to only $1.99, and it's just as good as all the others. Grab your copy here.
September 28, 2023
Here we are. The final and last book of James Herriot. And what an ending to such a great series! Post-war Darrowby keeps James Herriot and his friend and partner Siegfried Farnon on their toes as more friends, both furry and human, are introduced and in need of veterinary assistance. Although Tristan was greatly and sorely missed by me, assistants John Crooks and Calum Buchanan still made me laugh and enjoy their time in James's stories. Especially Calum. How he keeps Marilyn the badger on his shoulder is beyond me! 😂 Again, the smiles and the tears were ever so present as I read this beautiful book. When I closed the book, I sat in awe and disbelief. I finished the series and I didn't know what to do with myself because I felt that I finished it too soon. I felt as if I my friend just left me for a moment and I already missed them. And you know what? I think James Herriot and I would have been great friends ☺️ As the farmers in Darrowby would say, "Aye, he's a rum 'un!"
Well, I can't keep away from these books for long, so you know what I'll be rereading soon 😉😂
Happy Reading!✨
Well, I can't keep away from these books for long, so you know what I'll be rereading soon 😉😂
Happy Reading!✨
January 31, 2024
4.5 stars
My husband and I have read two chapters of a James Herriot novel every Friday for the past four years as a part of our date day. It has gotten to the place that when I know a heartbreaking story is coming, I will pass the book to him to let him finish while I dry my tears.
But the sad stories are few and far between. More often than not we are laughing our heads off at Calum's shenanigans or James' humiliation at the hand of some know-it-all farmer.
These stories are a wonderful blend of humor and pathos, which enable the reader to deeply identify with the characters and their pets. Very satisfying!
My husband and I have read two chapters of a James Herriot novel every Friday for the past four years as a part of our date day. It has gotten to the place that when I know a heartbreaking story is coming, I will pass the book to him to let him finish while I dry my tears.
But the sad stories are few and far between. More often than not we are laughing our heads off at Calum's shenanigans or James' humiliation at the hand of some know-it-all farmer.
These stories are a wonderful blend of humor and pathos, which enable the reader to deeply identify with the characters and their pets. Very satisfying!
February 29, 2024
„Every Living Thing“ ist das letzte der Bücher, die auf Goodreads in die Reihe „All Creatures Great and Small“ eingeordnet sind. Wie schon im Vorgänger „The Lord God Made Them All“ ist auch in diesem Band die Erzählung nicht länger chronologisch wie in den ersten drei Büchern, sondern anekdotenhaft. Wir hören wieder viel über schrullige Bauern, Haustierbesitzer, James‘ und Helens Kinder und ihr Familienleben. Auch dieser Teil kommt nicht an die ersten drei heran, hat mir aber besser gefallen als der letzte. Herriot besinnt sich wieder mehr auf die Themen, um die es in den ersten drei Bänden ging. Manchmal frage ich mich, ob wirklich ein einziger Tierarzt in seinem Arbeitsleben auf so viele Skurrilitäten treffen kann oder ob da nicht auch manches von Kollegen mit eingeflossen oder erdacht ist. Auf Audible ist noch ein Hörbuch namens „The Wonderful World of James Herriot“ verfügbar, das u. a. Nicholas Ralph als Sprecher aufführt. Ich vermute, dass es sich dabei um Ausschnitte aus den anderen Büchern handelt. Ich werde auf jeden Fall beobachten, ob da noch etwas geplant ist, auf Goodreads ist durchaus noch mehr von James Herriot zu finden, ich vermute aber, dass es sich dabei um Teil des Hauptwerks handelt, die separat verfügbar sind. Ich werde die aktuelle Serienverfilmung weiter verfolgen, auch wenn sie doch einen ganz anderen Fokus hat als die Bücher, und die ersten drei Bücher werde ich mir sicher irgendwann auch noch einmal anhören.
May 11, 2011
This is a very fitting last book to James Herriot's collection. In it, he and Helen move several times, and he details each move and house and what it represents to him. He also details the characters, arrivals, acclimatisations, and departures or two memorable veterinary assistants, both of which make for very compelling reading, though the "vet wi' the badger" is my favorite.
The book culminates with a very small, personal, tender story of Herriot and his own cats. This is one of the very best of the books, and I highly recommend it.
(I apologize for the brevity of this review. I finished it right as I got away on vacation on May 5, and I really do best when I can review these books right away.)
The book culminates with a very small, personal, tender story of Herriot and his own cats. This is one of the very best of the books, and I highly recommend it.
(I apologize for the brevity of this review. I finished it right as I got away on vacation on May 5, and I really do best when I can review these books right away.)
May 10, 2021
Well this is kind of an embarrassing read. Why's that? For starters, I have never read a Herriot book until just now and I think that's sadly pathetic but, at least, corrected and redeemed. Secondly, we were supposed to read Herriot for our book club last month and in anticipation of this joyous event, I ordered the UK edition and, subsequently, read the wrong title in a state of confusion. I was supposed to read the FIRST story in this series. Instead I read the last. But I read it, so doesn't that count for something? I hope.
I enjoyed it! Turns out I really could only read Herriot in small, bite-sized chunks but that just added to the overall pleasure. It drug it out. But I wasn't complaining. Glad for the introduction and now I feel it my duty to go and grab Book 1 and get to it.
I enjoyed it! Turns out I really could only read Herriot in small, bite-sized chunks but that just added to the overall pleasure. It drug it out. But I wasn't complaining. Glad for the introduction and now I feel it my duty to go and grab Book 1 and get to it.
October 18, 2018
Wonderful series!
October 26, 2022
I think James Herriot is one of my favorite authors. I just love how he weaves his tales from his vet practice and family life into such lovely, lively, funny and emotional stories.
December 22, 2020
**Sigh** Today I read the last chapter of this last book in James Herriot's heartwarming series, and had to take a short moment to grieve. These wholehearted stories, narrated by the brilliant Christopher Timothy, have accompanied me for the last five years through my travels back and forth to my distant family, cheered me as I waited in parking lots for my kids to be picked up from after school practices and rehearsals, and shortened the drive coming home late nights from my church. How many times have I caught myself laughing aloud, alone in my car, at one of Herriot's retelling of his veterinary bumbles, only to glance over and see someone, sitting next to me at a stoplight, clearly questioning my right-mindedness. I will revisit this series again...and again...because a trip to the northern Dales is just what is needed to bring one out of the baseness of today's world. For me, heaven looks a lot like Darrowby.
December 21, 2020
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
April 21, 2022
5⭐! I am sad it is over. 😭
June 10, 2023
A wonderful end to a lovely series. I’m sad for it to be done. This is a series that I can imagine rereading. The vignettes of veterinary life in the Yorkshire Dales is a kind of reading therapy. The characters of his veterinary assistant were especially fun.
April 17, 2022
Not my favorite installment in Herriot's series of memoirs, but still an excellent read and an excellent conclusion to the narrative.
December 12, 2023
It was a fun book to read. 52 stories about veterinarians taking care of animals in mid 20th century England. A lot of humor in those stories. A good read.
September 23, 2022
Another entertaining audio book from James Herriot! Wonderfully read by Christopher Timothy, who can do all the voices, yay! There is a little bit of everything here, humor, pathos, amazement, a feeling of community, and love of animals overall. I feel compelled to mention once again, however, that these are not really for children - unless they are young farmer/stockmen or ranchers or budding vets. The language is often raw and unfiltered. If you want your children to enjoy Herriot's animal stories, there is a whole series of them edited just for kids.
April 5, 2013
I don't know how many times I have told people how wonderful the first book in this series is, "All Creatures Great and Small". Many times. They always give me a look like they are humoring me. I get it a little bit. It took me a while to pick these up. I'm not much of an animal lover, I don't dislike animals I'm just a bit ambivalent. However, movies and books about animals... usually bore me to death or are extremely silly (movies with talking animals? No, thank you!) However, I can honestly say that these charming books are one of my favorite series of all time. When I pick these books up I suddenly wish I could have been a vet in Yorkshire and known all of these marvelous people and animals and experiences. If you knew how little this fits me you would realize how ridiculous that is. If you haven't read these books because, well, it just doesn't sound all that interesting, trust me, you are doing yourself a disservice. I can't talk them up enough. None of them quite touch the magic of the first one, I think because of the novelty, but they are all wonderful.
August 22, 2016
It never fails! I've read them all now. His winsome stories draw me in and captivate me with the beauty and love of his Yokshire surroundings, his fondness for his clients and especially the animals. He paints a picture of humanity at it's best and worst. Sometimes things go well and other times not so well, but we get to hear it all! He is not separate from his work either- No - he opens himself up to the readers too. Just as he accepts the myriad of people and depicts them in truth and realness, he displays his weaknesses and strengths for us to see. So, he is not unlike us as we go about our journey in life. His vulnerability and insecurity as a man and vet combined with his confidence and boldness and love for ALL God's creatures, renders this book delightful and uplifting.
June 1, 2015
When this first started, I thought, "Oh no. Tell me this isn't like this the whole way through." To my most utmost surprise, IT WAS! But it was okay, James Herriot grew on me and I liked his journey. I also enjoyed his humor.
But I do wish 2 things. One is that I wanted more detail about the people. The detail that was furnished all came about from interactions with animals. While that was sweet, I still wanted more. The second thing is all the tedious detail about how he treated the different ailments of the animals. It was TMI for me. I didn't need to know that.
But I do wish 2 things. One is that I wanted more detail about the people. The detail that was furnished all came about from interactions with animals. While that was sweet, I still wanted more. The second thing is all the tedious detail about how he treated the different ailments of the animals. It was TMI for me. I didn't need to know that.
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