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All Creatures Great and Small #2
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet
How on earth did James Herriot come to be sitting on a high Yorkshire moor, smelling vaguely of cows? James isn't sure, but he knows that he loves it. This second hilarious volume of memoirs contains more tales of James' unpredictable boss Siegfried Farnon, his charming student brother Tristan, animal mayhem galore and his first encounters with a beautiful girl called Helen. 'He can tell a good story against himself, and his pleasure in the beauty of the countryside in which he works is infectious' - "Daily Telegraph". 'Full of warmth, wisdom and wit' - "The Field". 'It is a pleasure to be in James Herriot's company' - "Observer".
229 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
205 people are currently reading
4393 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
267 books3,350 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 237 reviews
August 28, 2018
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet is the second book in the series of All Creatures Great and Small. This was just as enjoyable as the first book and once again we are led on a delightful journey as Yorkshire vet James Herriot attends to his daily appointments. No two days are the same when you are working with animals, but James just takes it entirely in his stride and tends to the animals the best way he knows how.
Whilst on his daily routines he crosses paths with the beautiful, Helen. James is immediately taken with her and feels an attraction between them, but does Helen feel the same way?
Another beautifully written story with many laugh out loud moments as well as a few sad moments. I thoroughly loved this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
Whilst on his daily routines he crosses paths with the beautiful, Helen. James is immediately taken with her and feels an attraction between them, but does Helen feel the same way?
Another beautifully written story with many laugh out loud moments as well as a few sad moments. I thoroughly loved this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2024
This is pure “comfort food” for me: James Herriot's memoirs are like a soothing, nurturing balm for the soul for me.
Nestled within the pages of this book is not only the continuation of the endearing sagas I came to love from his previous work but also a wealth of humour, warmth, and genuine affection for both animals and humanity.
»It was to a moribund horse, and Mr. Sidlow, describing the treatment to date, announced that he had been pushing raw onions up the horse’s rectum; he couldn’t understand why it was so uneasy on its legs. Siegfried had pointed out that if he were to insert a raw onion in Mr. Sidlow’s rectum, he, Mr. Sidlow, would undoubtedly be uneasy on his legs.«
What strikes me most about Herriot's writing is the effortlessly vivid way he captures the life of a country vet in Yorkshire. His narrative weaves intricate tales that both amuse and move, with a cast of characters that could only belong to the unique world he describes. From farmers set in their ways to a range of animals that bring to life the breathtaking canvas of the Yorkshire dales, Herriot's storytelling paints a picture so compelling it's as if the drystone walls and rolling hills leap from the pages.
The anecdotes shared within the book seem almost too extraordinary to be true, yet it's the authenticity of Herriot's experiences that infuses his writing with such heartwarming appeal. Whether he's recounting midnight emergencies or the quirks and foibles of his four-legged patients, one can't help but be enchanted by the compassionate interplay between man and beast.
»Yet what made him trail down that hillside every day in all weathers? Why had he filled the last years of those two old horses with peace and beauty? Why had he given them a final ease and comfort which he had withheld from himself?
It could only be love.«
Part of the book's allure also comes from Herriot's narrative tone, which is at once entirely self-deprecating and brimming with a gentle humour. He portrays his younger self with such candour, reflecting on the trials and tribulations of a novice vet that his experiences become wonderfully, and hilariously, relatable. The moments of exasperation, the triumphs over seemingly insurmountable challenges, and the lessons learned in the most unexpected of ways have a way of resonating with anyone who's ever pursued a passion or followed a calling.
»A backhander on the side of the head drove me violently against Helen’s shoulder and I was beginning to apologise when I saw that her twitching and frowning had come on again. But this time it spread and her whole face seemed to break up. She began to laugh, silently and helplessly.
I had never seen a girl laugh like this. It was as though it was something she had wanted to do for a long time. She abandoned herself utterly to it, lying back with her head on the back of the seat, legs stretched out in front of her, arms dangling by her side. She took her time and waited until she had got it all out of her system before she turned to me.
She put her hand on my arm. “Look,” she said faintly. “Next time, why don’t we just go for a walk?”«
While the humour is a constant thread — with escapades often leading to side-splitting laughter — there is a profound sense of respect that Herriot extends towards his profession. His depiction of the intimate relationship between humans and their animal companions serves as a tender reminder of the trust and responsibility placed in the hands of those who care for our non-human friends.
»I tried to be cheerful. “Well, I don’t think she’ll die, and even if the quarter goes she’ll make it up on the other three.” But there was the feeling of helplessness I always had when I could do little about something which mattered a great deal.«
Yet, it's not merely the insightful look into veterinary life that captivated me, but also the rich portrayal of rural England in the 1930s. The social history wrapped within the book's humourous anecdotes paints an evocative image of the period. We're given a snapshot of a world that teeters on the threshold of change, and through Herriot's eyes, we can witness the shifts in society that herald the modern era whilst clinging to the timeless traditions that define Yorkshire and its people.
»But the effort fell flat; the effect was entirely spoiled. He was polishing the glass with a dead hen.«
In short, 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet' is a splendid read that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with a love for animals or a fondness for the English countryside and its stories. Herriot's well-told stories are soaked in warmth, wisdom, and a touch of good old-fashioned humanity.
I love them deeply. Five out of five stars.
Also: »nincompoop« - how not to love that?!
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
Nestled within the pages of this book is not only the continuation of the endearing sagas I came to love from his previous work but also a wealth of humour, warmth, and genuine affection for both animals and humanity.
»It was to a moribund horse, and Mr. Sidlow, describing the treatment to date, announced that he had been pushing raw onions up the horse’s rectum; he couldn’t understand why it was so uneasy on its legs. Siegfried had pointed out that if he were to insert a raw onion in Mr. Sidlow’s rectum, he, Mr. Sidlow, would undoubtedly be uneasy on his legs.«
What strikes me most about Herriot's writing is the effortlessly vivid way he captures the life of a country vet in Yorkshire. His narrative weaves intricate tales that both amuse and move, with a cast of characters that could only belong to the unique world he describes. From farmers set in their ways to a range of animals that bring to life the breathtaking canvas of the Yorkshire dales, Herriot's storytelling paints a picture so compelling it's as if the drystone walls and rolling hills leap from the pages.
The anecdotes shared within the book seem almost too extraordinary to be true, yet it's the authenticity of Herriot's experiences that infuses his writing with such heartwarming appeal. Whether he's recounting midnight emergencies or the quirks and foibles of his four-legged patients, one can't help but be enchanted by the compassionate interplay between man and beast.
»Yet what made him trail down that hillside every day in all weathers? Why had he filled the last years of those two old horses with peace and beauty? Why had he given them a final ease and comfort which he had withheld from himself?
It could only be love.«
Part of the book's allure also comes from Herriot's narrative tone, which is at once entirely self-deprecating and brimming with a gentle humour. He portrays his younger self with such candour, reflecting on the trials and tribulations of a novice vet that his experiences become wonderfully, and hilariously, relatable. The moments of exasperation, the triumphs over seemingly insurmountable challenges, and the lessons learned in the most unexpected of ways have a way of resonating with anyone who's ever pursued a passion or followed a calling.
»A backhander on the side of the head drove me violently against Helen’s shoulder and I was beginning to apologise when I saw that her twitching and frowning had come on again. But this time it spread and her whole face seemed to break up. She began to laugh, silently and helplessly.
I had never seen a girl laugh like this. It was as though it was something she had wanted to do for a long time. She abandoned herself utterly to it, lying back with her head on the back of the seat, legs stretched out in front of her, arms dangling by her side. She took her time and waited until she had got it all out of her system before she turned to me.
She put her hand on my arm. “Look,” she said faintly. “Next time, why don’t we just go for a walk?”«
While the humour is a constant thread — with escapades often leading to side-splitting laughter — there is a profound sense of respect that Herriot extends towards his profession. His depiction of the intimate relationship between humans and their animal companions serves as a tender reminder of the trust and responsibility placed in the hands of those who care for our non-human friends.
»I tried to be cheerful. “Well, I don’t think she’ll die, and even if the quarter goes she’ll make it up on the other three.” But there was the feeling of helplessness I always had when I could do little about something which mattered a great deal.«
Yet, it's not merely the insightful look into veterinary life that captivated me, but also the rich portrayal of rural England in the 1930s. The social history wrapped within the book's humourous anecdotes paints an evocative image of the period. We're given a snapshot of a world that teeters on the threshold of change, and through Herriot's eyes, we can witness the shifts in society that herald the modern era whilst clinging to the timeless traditions that define Yorkshire and its people.
»But the effort fell flat; the effect was entirely spoiled. He was polishing the glass with a dead hen.«
In short, 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet' is a splendid read that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with a love for animals or a fondness for the English countryside and its stories. Herriot's well-told stories are soaked in warmth, wisdom, and a touch of good old-fashioned humanity.
I love them deeply. Five out of five stars.
Also: »nincompoop« - how not to love that?!
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
March 21, 2022
I don’t write reviews.
This book is incredibly satisfying. The flavour is sweet potato mochi. The aroma is lemongrass and mint. The sound is a babbling brook. The sensation is a light soft fleece blanket. The emotion is a line of clothes hanging in the sun to dry. With a gentle breeze.
This book is incredibly satisfying. The flavour is sweet potato mochi. The aroma is lemongrass and mint. The sound is a babbling brook. The sensation is a light soft fleece blanket. The emotion is a line of clothes hanging in the sun to dry. With a gentle breeze.
May 28, 2021
I am loving this series and only sorry I haven't read it sooner. They are laugh out loud, feel good stories and the author has a wonderful way of getting them across. The stories that include Siegfried are wonderful! What a character!!
August 8, 2014
This is the 2nd of James Herriot's books. The first I just casually liked. But since then I have fallen in love. If you ever feel like cuddling by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate, but don't have a fireplace and have run out of hot chocolate, this book will suit just as well. They are just full of stories that make me laugh. I have to tell Brandon at least one or two each night, and he laughs too. Also, I am not an animal lover in the smallest degree, but I am while reading these. If you really only like fast-paced page-turners, do NOT pick up this book. This is more like having the best storyteller ever in your living room every night.
November 7, 2020
This is the second in this wonderful series and I loved it just as much as the first one. Although I’ve read the whole series lots of times over the years it is always a pleasure to dip into them yet again and I read them as if it’s my first time. The lovely stories are very appealing and as they are quite short they don’t take long to read and I always get lost in them very quickly.
November 9, 2021
Skatījos seriālu par Džeimsu Heriotu un nolēmu pārlasīt grāmatas. Daļu no latviešu valodā izdotajiem darbiem biju lasījusi jau pirms gadiem 20. Patīk vēl joprojām! Heriots ar tādu mīlestību raksta par ārstētajiem dzīvniekiem, apgabalu un arī cilvēkiem. Var just, ka tas ir viņa sirdsdarbs. Pārlasīšu arī citas viņa grāmatas.
January 14, 2008
Loved all the James Herriot books. My parents began to read them when I was maybe 10 or so and they would laugh out loud but I was far too cool to read what my parents did until one day I had a miserable toothache/earache and to take my mind off it I began to read one of this series of books. I too ended up laughing and simply being transported away to a different time, yet with places that seemed comfortingly familiar. (I'm from Yorkshire originally and was living there at this time.) I wrote my first ever fan letter to anyone, to James Herriot, and he replied! I was smitten and even investigated on my own to find out his real name! I also loved how he began to write the books kind of from a dare from his wife! And that he began them later in life. All things encouraging there!
April 10, 2022
به عنوان یک دامپزشک ارتباط زیادی با این کتاب گرفتم
خیلی از لحظات را لمس کردم و حتی درس هایی گرفتم برای زندگی کاری پیش رویم.
متن کتاب بسیار جذاب و روان و پراز طنز های ظریف است و گمان کنم همگی از خواندن آن لذت ببرند.
روز به روز بیشتر به این نتیجه میرسم که"ما بیش از حد تصور به حیوانات مدیونیم".
خیلی از لحظات را لمس کردم و حتی درس هایی گرفتم برای زندگی کاری پیش رویم.
متن کتاب بسیار جذاب و روان و پراز طنز های ظریف است و گمان کنم همگی از خواندن آن لذت ببرند.
روز به روز بیشتر به این نتیجه میرسم که"ما بیش از حد تصور به حیوانات مدیونیم".
February 21, 2024
We get Helen in this one.
And more hilarious stories in that unique Herriot voice.
And more hilarious stories in that unique Herriot voice.
June 30, 2016
I needed a break from depressing dystopian blood and gore, so I shifted gears and went back to my tried and true: James Herriot. Although his stories do involve nearly an equal amount of blood and gore (1930′s veterinarian style), they’re FAR more uplifting. A much needed respite, to say the least! (And, I believe, the last of James Herriot’s books that I’ve not read– what the hell am I supposed to use as palette cleanser now?!)
As always, James Herriot’s quaint little stories of life as a veterinarian in long ago England offered a pleasant, easy-read escape from the real world. Rolling hills, English accents, darling animals up the wazoo, and an occasional bloody medical scene to keep things interesting… You really couldn’t ask for a better take-a-break-from-everything book.
Now just keep your fingers crossed that an as yet undiscovered James Herriot manuscript is sitting on some dusty bookshelf somewhere waiting for just the right moment to reveal its’ animal loveliness to the world!
As always, James Herriot’s quaint little stories of life as a veterinarian in long ago England offered a pleasant, easy-read escape from the real world. Rolling hills, English accents, darling animals up the wazoo, and an occasional bloody medical scene to keep things interesting… You really couldn’t ask for a better take-a-break-from-everything book.
Now just keep your fingers crossed that an as yet undiscovered James Herriot manuscript is sitting on some dusty bookshelf somewhere waiting for just the right moment to reveal its’ animal loveliness to the world!
July 4, 2012
I am a late-comer to the Herriot books, but am utterly enchanted by the 1930's rural Yorkshire setting and the poignant, gently comic stories about the people and their animals. The old social customs are fascinating, as are the old veterinary treatments that have been replaced by modern drugs and procedures. Each vignette is a vivid glimpse into a world long gone, but full of charm and pathos. I really love these books and want to read everything the author ever wrote.
December 28, 2024
These are the coziest books ever. Also I have a crush on young James Herriot.
July 31, 2016
A wonderful memoir from James Herriot, filled with entertaining stories of his work as a young vet in rural Yorkshire in the 1930s. Charming and well written. I read these books when I was younger and just bought three of them at a secondhand sale. I looking forward to revisiting them.
October 9, 2024
I listened to the audiobook narrated by the actor, Christopher Timothy, who played Herriot in the BBC version of All Creators Great and Small that I remember watching with my parents. James is now in his second year of practice in Darrowby and still learning and getting to know the quirks of the country folk. There are some really funny stories he shares, and Sigfried is exasperating at times, but it's funny to listen to Herriot share his experiences working with him. I was engaged throughout most of the book.
April 12, 2020
A funny book of stories from junior vet James Herriot when he was working in the 1930s in Yorkshire.
July 18, 2022
enjoying this series
more of the same as James grows into role as junior vet
and we meet Helen as romantic interest
more of the same as James grows into role as junior vet
and we meet Helen as romantic interest
June 9, 2021
The second volume of James Herriot's veterinary memoirs follow much in the same vein as his first. He talks about specific cases and characters from his time practising in the Yorkshire Dales, as as well as the eccentricities of his boss Siegfried and his boss's brother Tristan, who also helps out, when he's not studying. This volume also introduces us to Helen Alderson, whom our intrepid vet starts to woo. (The dates that he takes her on are toe-curlingly disastrous, but she keeps coming back, so I guess there must be something to the young man).
Herriot paints a lovely picture of a time that's now long gone. I wonder what he would have made of modern industrial farming, without the space for the eccentrics and smallholders that populated the dales in the first half of the 20th century and who Herriot describes so lovingly. While I certainly wouldn't have wanted to live in that period (or, indeed, any period without modern medicine and a decent Wi-Fi connection), I can be slightly sad that we've lost something as we've modernised.
These books are a charming, low stress look into the past and I look forward to reading more of them.
Herriot paints a lovely picture of a time that's now long gone. I wonder what he would have made of modern industrial farming, without the space for the eccentrics and smallholders that populated the dales in the first half of the 20th century and who Herriot describes so lovingly. While I certainly wouldn't have wanted to live in that period (or, indeed, any period without modern medicine and a decent Wi-Fi connection), I can be slightly sad that we've lost something as we've modernised.
These books are a charming, low stress look into the past and I look forward to reading more of them.
August 7, 2017
This book was recommended to me by Goodreads after I finished reading It's a Vet's Life. And what a treasure this turned out to be!
Humour in any form is always a delight. James Herriot's veterinary adventures are a fun, light read. The writing is simple and frank, and his descriptions of the Yorkshire country and its agrarian life is so enjoyable. You can probably enjoy them more if you love animals, but I'm sure even non-animal lovers can find something to amuse themselves with in this book.
Humour in any form is always a delight. James Herriot's veterinary adventures are a fun, light read. The writing is simple and frank, and his descriptions of the Yorkshire country and its agrarian life is so enjoyable. You can probably enjoy them more if you love animals, but I'm sure even non-animal lovers can find something to amuse themselves with in this book.
May 3, 2011
The second book of the series, once again containing beautifully detailed anecdotes. As I read I often found myself wondering whether Herriot kept a diary of his time at Skeldale house or whether he is just fabricating using his surroundings...? Well, whatever, because it makes for entertaining reading material.
I'd say I marginally prefer his first book, although this one had more of a laugh-out-loud quality to it. I have hungrily begun his next one, Let Sleeping Vets Lie.
I'd say I marginally prefer his first book, although this one had more of a laugh-out-loud quality to it. I have hungrily begun his next one, Let Sleeping Vets Lie.
December 19, 2012
James Herriot is delightful at any age. I've been reading him since I was in my early teens and now in my late twenties, he still makes me laugh out loud. His little world is so charming, his characters so real, I wish I could holiday there. A real treat - I recommend this to anyone who loves to read and loves to laugh.
March 14, 2017
This book has so much heart and was written with a great eye for making the small details of life entertaining and absurd. I love this book and I feel it is a comfort book, something to read when life gets you down, to remind you that the best things in life are simple and free and how to take joy in the moments. James Herriot is a gifted writer.
April 17, 2015
I read all these as a teenager and forgot just how great they are, perfect reading for when you're starting a new job and bumbling around making mistakes as James Herriot feels your pain and writes of his experiences with such self effacing humour you've just got to love him. Laughed my head off
January 4, 2017
More stories of the Dales, this time including Herriot's various attempts at courtship.
A beautifully written book.
A beautifully written book.
March 9, 2021
I enjoyed this, the second book in James Herriot's memoirs as much as I did the first book. These little vignettes are remarkable in their realism and in the wonderful descriptions of the countryside of Yorkshire and of the marvellous and real people that lived in Yorkshire in the late 1930's. These stories made me chuckle, laugh out load, and some even brought some tears to my eyes. This is why I love to read and these stories have restored my faith in the world and restored my faith in humanity. During these trying times it is very nice to simply enjoy and revel in the simplicity of life during the last century. By the end of this book James is marred to his Helen, and the last story describing their honeymoon made me smile as I closed my e-reader. The story in this book about the man with his two old draft horses is a classic, and I had to grab a tissue after I finished that one. I am going to continue to read the other books in this wonderful series, and the sooner the better.
May 31, 2021
What a gem of a book! James Herriot's stories about life in 1930's rural Yorkshire is full of humour, and detail of the daily lives of the farmers and their animals he takes care of on a daily basis. Moving from a Glasgow in Scotland to a life in agrarian northern England to work under the tutelage of the unpredictable Siegrfried and his comical younger brother Tristan brings about huge changes in his life.
James was planning to be a small animal vet but ends up mostly working on cows and pigs. The old customs and veterinary practices make for delightful, funny stories, of days gone by. The characters are wonderfully written and the language of the locals in Yorkshire makes you laugh out loud.
I would highly recommend this book.
James was planning to be a small animal vet but ends up mostly working on cows and pigs. The old customs and veterinary practices make for delightful, funny stories, of days gone by. The characters are wonderfully written and the language of the locals in Yorkshire makes you laugh out loud.
I would highly recommend this book.
September 1, 2025
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet is the second in the series of books, which James Herriot wrote about his time as a veterinary surgeon. These lovable stories were made famous by the BBC, when they were broadcast as All Creatures Great and Small, which starred Christopher Timothy as Herriot, Robert Hardy as Siegfried, and Peter Davison as Siegfried's brother Tristan.
In this second of the books, Herriot is now firmly ensconced in the village of Darrowby and has acclimatised to life with his colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon. This book introduces Helen Alderson, the daughter of a local farmer.
The book contains an afterword by the actress Carol Drinkwater, who played the original Helen in the TV series.
In this second of the books, Herriot is now firmly ensconced in the village of Darrowby and has acclimatised to life with his colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon. This book introduces Helen Alderson, the daughter of a local farmer.
The book contains an afterword by the actress Carol Drinkwater, who played the original Helen in the TV series.
December 19, 2021
4.5 Stars
Didn't love it quite as much as book one, but loved it a whole heck of a lot. Can't wait to rewatch S1 and enjoy it all again, than look forward to season 2! After that, I will continue reading the series.
These are positively delightful. I never quite "got" what people mean when they say they read something cozy, until I read these books. These are my cozy.
Didn't love it quite as much as book one, but loved it a whole heck of a lot. Can't wait to rewatch S1 and enjoy it all again, than look forward to season 2! After that, I will continue reading the series.
These are positively delightful. I never quite "got" what people mean when they say they read something cozy, until I read these books. These are my cozy.
September 13, 2024
I love these books.
I read them at night before I go to bed and the stories are so wholesome but also extremely entertaining. It’s no on-the-edge-of-your-seat book but it really is a pleasure to be in James Herriot’s company.
I read them at night before I go to bed and the stories are so wholesome but also extremely entertaining. It’s no on-the-edge-of-your-seat book but it really is a pleasure to be in James Herriot’s company.
June 12, 2025
Another enjoyable & lovely read from 'James Herriot'. There were recollections which made me laugh, smile & cry. His descriptions of the Yorkshire Dales are so vivid it makes it easy to imagine you're there. The book includes the first couple of 'outings ' with Helen &I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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