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All Creatures Great and Small #1-6
James Herriot - If Only They Could Talk/It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet/ Let Sleeping Vets Lie/ Vet in Harness/Vets Might Fly/Vet in a Spin
IBSN 0 86273 172 0
This the same book listed on above IBSN but with Book Art Work
This the same book listed on above IBSN but with Book Art Work
829 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
13 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
269 books3,411 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 5, 2018
He is absolutely one of the best storytellers and writers of all time. In a world where books and television seemed to be filled with gloom, his stories can lift the spirits and minds of all readers, young and old.
October 14, 2025
Even better than the series, of course! I used to watch the "old one" as a child. Reading the books brings so much joy, and they make you laugh quite often. Herriot writes with wit, love, and expertise. His lovely books, a cup of Taylors Yorkshire Tea, and the world is perfect :)
December 23, 2020
I found one of these at the used book store, some of the stories were familiar, but it has been a long time since I read them, so I enjoyed them a lot.
I found that I had had no idea as a child of the time period that he was writing in, and the changing face of farming life between the wars was interesting, as was the changing of medicine with the advent of antibiotics. Details which escaped me on my first reading of All Creatures Great and Small, due to my being nine.
I found that I had had no idea as a child of the time period that he was writing in, and the changing face of farming life between the wars was interesting, as was the changing of medicine with the advent of antibiotics. Details which escaped me on my first reading of All Creatures Great and Small, due to my being nine.
January 8, 2022
I first read this series as a young adult and have returned many, many times. James Herriot is a wonderful storyteller and provides such a warm, humorous escape to his readers. He does not shy away from detailed explanations of veterinary procedures and teaches good animal husbandry skills in the process. All his characters are well-drawn and the humor? Well, let's just say my stomach hurt from laughing so hard at some passages. Well done and an absolute classic read.
March 7, 2021
I last read Herriot years and years ago so rereading his books was a nice reminder of those books and of course the TV series on SABC and the BBC. Nice stories of the life of a country vet from 1939 to the early 1960's. Stories like this are really innocent when other books are full of murder and mayhem so makes a nice change to get a simple happy book.
June 29, 2025
Anybody that loves good old England, with its quirks and eccentricities and loves animals and the countryside in equal measure, will love James Herriot too. I started reading these when I was a child and still come back to them now and again. Heart-warming, gentle and full of charm.
May 11, 2019
Loved these as an eleven year old, but no need to keep them for ever - to the book swap they go.
January 16, 2020
Pretty good book. Like the stories that came. A little boring but for a true story its good.
March 16, 2022
Brilliant, vivid, light, heart-warming - couldn't put it down!
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August 1, 2023I enjoyed re-reading a favorite author!
January 2, 2023
I read these works by James Herriot for the first time almost twenty years ago, and I’ve reread them countless times since then. It’s hard to find a writer this lovable. As you probably guessed from the titles, James was a veterinary surgeon in the 1930s in Yorkshire, England. His compassion, love, and sense of humor are obvious in his writings, both towards his patients as well as their owners. His opening chapter describes his struggle to deliver a calf in the middle of the night, while the farmer has little faith in him, as he is a young, inexperienced vet. The book has countless such anecdotes from angry bulls to delightful kittens and cheeky parrots. One of the most interesting segments is Tricki Woo, a pampered Pekinese dog belonging to a rich old lady. Equal importance is given to the farmers, their crusty exterior hiding some of the most generous and wonderful people one could meet. And of course, there is the love of his life, Helen, but I won’t say more.
Early in the book, James joins the veterinary practices of Siegfried, one of the most interesting and entertaining characters you can meet in literature. One can only wish such hilarious and understanding bosses existed in real life too. James was certainly lucky to have one. And even more entertaining is Siegfried’s younger brother Tristan, a fun-loving veterinary student who waltzes in and out of the house and the books, adding more hilarity. But it is not all laughs. There are many moments when this writing can bring tears to your eyes, especially when a beloved animal passes away or has to be put down.
In the last three books, James and Siegfried are enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to serve in WW 2. He weaves those tales in and out of the ones of his old life as a vet with mastery. This is a large volume of writing, but it never gets boring because his insight into human and animal nature is profound. These books are so vivid and enriching, they leave you feeling that you lived in his world. James Herriot takes you right into the lives and hearts of the people he knew and makes you feel as if you know them too.
Early in the book, James joins the veterinary practices of Siegfried, one of the most interesting and entertaining characters you can meet in literature. One can only wish such hilarious and understanding bosses existed in real life too. James was certainly lucky to have one. And even more entertaining is Siegfried’s younger brother Tristan, a fun-loving veterinary student who waltzes in and out of the house and the books, adding more hilarity. But it is not all laughs. There are many moments when this writing can bring tears to your eyes, especially when a beloved animal passes away or has to be put down.
In the last three books, James and Siegfried are enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to serve in WW 2. He weaves those tales in and out of the ones of his old life as a vet with mastery. This is a large volume of writing, but it never gets boring because his insight into human and animal nature is profound. These books are so vivid and enriching, they leave you feeling that you lived in his world. James Herriot takes you right into the lives and hearts of the people he knew and makes you feel as if you know them too.
May 19, 2014
Easy, entertaining read.
I read this series on Kindle edition as my first kindle treat.
I had read it all 30 years or so ago as a child and enjoyed it more this time round.
The stories are just what you'd expect and move along comfortably. I had some trepidation about reading Vet in a Spin as i have strong views on war, but was pleasantly surprised with the apolitical content and found it experience based. So I enjoyed every bit of all of them.
Anyone who loves a shaggy dog story will love these.
I read this series on Kindle edition as my first kindle treat.
I had read it all 30 years or so ago as a child and enjoyed it more this time round.
The stories are just what you'd expect and move along comfortably. I had some trepidation about reading Vet in a Spin as i have strong views on war, but was pleasantly surprised with the apolitical content and found it experience based. So I enjoyed every bit of all of them.
Anyone who loves a shaggy dog story will love these.
April 13, 2013
2nd read
August 6, 2013
Lovely!
April 22, 2014
Awesome humor.
November 10, 2022
I love how he write about the animals, I want to read all James Herriot books..
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November 17, 2015loved the book.
want to read more of Herriot
want to read more of Herriot
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews