What do you think?
Rate this book
All Creatures Great and Small #1-7
James Herriot Bestsellers, Set of 4 Books
hardback
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
20 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
269 books3,403 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
September 4, 2008
EVERYONE LOVES THESE BOOKS! Of all ages- even my 11 year old daughter ate them up. When we go on vacation, we put in the cd set, and all of us are entertained for hours. They read like a dream- you feel you are actually there, participating in all the experiences like a fly on the wall. You can easily enjoy them with stops and starts, as each chapter starts a new little vignette- although it is also connected by time and character. They are good because I believe the author is good, and sees good in the world around him. I think James Harriot is like an artist with a paintbrush- you hardly realize you are reading. You think you are experiencing.
December 8, 2018
Fabulous books! Everyone should read these but especially if you love animals.
Date read is a guess. I still own some of them.
Date read is a guess. I still own some of them.
July 18, 2025
These are among the best. Some hilarious stories, some heartbreaking ones, and his wonderful sweet family through it all. You see him grow as a vet and as a husband and father.
April 28, 2012
James Herriot is another one of my top writer-heroes. He finds great truth and humor in the ordinary people and situations he encountered as a vet in the most unlikely of places for great classic biography. Like Asimov, his writing style is transparent taking the reader directly to the heart of the story and, especially, the characters. I'm sure his creativity embellished the stories he told, but the truth reigns supreme as we all recognize the people and situations he recounts. Of course, I love animals and that makes his stories all the more appealing because of his deep understanding of the relationship between humanity and our friends on this Earth. I hope that when I venture into memoir writing, I can achieve just a fraction of the success James Herriot has portraying humanity.
September 26, 2008
I love him because he is another author who has a gift for description. You can see the country side and the farms he visits through his eyes. He helps you to see the humor in everyday life.
August 23, 2020
I’m not an animal lover but even so I found this collection of memoirs really heartwarming :’) James Herriot describes his sometimes idyllic but also eventful life as a country vet and the animals he comes into contact with, and more importantly, the lessons he learns from them. He shows us that we really can learn something from every living thing. An enjoyable read!
January 29, 2023
A MUST read! Alllll 4 of them. THIS is the gold standard, when it comes to memoirs. Read them, and I dare anyone to disagree w/this option of mine. 🐶 🐱 🐮 🐷 🐑
March 20, 2013
I remember my parents enjoying the BBC version of these stories on TV when I was younger. When my mom passed away last year, the grief process led me to these books as a way to connect with my mother's interests and values. I was overjoyed to discover a beautifully resonating depiction of life in Herriot's stories and the transcendent healing power of a humorous outlook on life. These will always be cherished stories to me.
August 10, 2016
I read this set way back when. In fact I still have them on my bookshelf. I absolutely love this man and his style of writing makes you feel like you are right beside him! I recommend this to animal lovers big and small.
Read
April 30, 2008These books are wonderfully charming and delightful! Your girls and boys will love them, especially if they are fond of animals. If they don't love animals, they will after hearing these books!
March 29, 2015
Went through a stage where i was reading biographical novels about life on the farm in the early 2000s. Loved my jaunt through the English countryside with James Herriot.
September 1, 2017
Wonderful collection of stories! Made me want to be a veterinarian.
December 28, 2021
Finally finished the last of Herriot’s books and what a delight they were to read. He’s written them in a way where each chapter is relatively short and has it’s own little story related to the animals and the people that own them. In turn these have been laugh out loud funny and also bring tears to your eyes.
There are beautiful descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside and the way of life that the bluff people lived up there being both kind hearted and at the same time gruff and unemotional. It’s a way of life and a people of a different time. Not necessarily gentler but simpler. The Yorkshire folk are never ones to suffer fools and will call a spade a shovel when needed.
There are beautiful descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside and the way of life that the bluff people lived up there being both kind hearted and at the same time gruff and unemotional. It’s a way of life and a people of a different time. Not necessarily gentler but simpler. The Yorkshire folk are never ones to suffer fools and will call a spade a shovel when needed.
October 16, 2021
I tried reading the box set when I was about 10. I was mortified at the thought of a man putting his hands inside a sheep to help it give birth, so that swiftly ended my interest. However I was looking for something to read and thought I’d give it another go. I love these books and the details of his life. It also helps that I’ve been watching the new series on channel 4 with my little sister who has started to read them too :) If you haven’t read already I suggest you do!
December 5, 2023
I love this series. Very seldom do I read a book twice but I did reread this series after watching the PBS mini series of the first 2 books. I love the way James Herriot writes and how he describes the countryside and the people of the small community where he had his veterinary practice. He always paints beautiful pictures in my head and funny scenes as well.
February 1, 2021
These were WONDERFUL! I admit I read these years ago and can never forget the pleasure I got from this series! I was reminded of them when I accidentally ran across the series being broadcast on PBS Masterpiece Theatre. I hope you try them and enjoy them as much as I did!
March 24, 2021
I just reread these books after many years and I think they are the best reads ever. There is so much love, respect and humor that lift my spirits and make me laugh and cry.
The comments from others make me want to read them again and I just did, as well as watched the old tv series.
The comments from others make me want to read them again and I just did, as well as watched the old tv series.
August 11, 2021
Love this series about a country vet in the Yorkshire dales. Each chapter tells of a different patient he treated and the people of the community. I have read this series more than once and it is a feel good read. I cry or laugh out loud at some of the situations he gets into.
October 18, 2023
This is simply wonderful. A brilliant feel good, feel sad, feel graced and uplifted. You shall sometimes laugh your head off, while on others wish to cry, with beautiful descriptions of the countryside and its people, animals and their challenges. Read it immediately if you wish to be enriched.
March 15, 2019
The standard against all other books about vets is measured. Classics!
May 3, 2020
I read all these books many years ago. I just loved them all.
September 5, 2020
James was my favorite author as a young girl and as an adult I recommend his books to every family as a great way to extend a love of reading and animals to the next generation
January 2, 2021
Some of my favorite if not my absolute favorite books- a comfort, never boring, always a delight
September 19, 2021
Absolutely beautiful!!! Great for everyone!!
December 20, 2021
Read this years ago, however, the books were just as enjoyable.. highly recommended. Makes me want to re watch the old tv series
June 8, 2022
I've watched the shows since they aired on PBS in the 70s-80s but only read the books just lately. Wonderful!
August 26, 2022
I loved listening to this again after watching the new BBC series. Absolutely adorable and uplifting, humorous and sweet. The reader was brilliant.
August 27, 2023
I visit these books over and over. Funny, heartfelt, and cozy.
November 28, 2024
Wholesome or just boring. Good melatonin generator
Read
December 23, 2021Masih asyik untuk diikutin. Ini tuh slow banget, hanya memoar yg menceritakan pengalaman pak James selama menjadi dokter hewan pas masa dia ikut latihan ketentaraan. Berasa kek didongengin, dibawa kembali ke masa Tempo Doeloe, jadul nun tentram dihati wkwkwkw
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews