What do you think?
Rate this book
All Creatures Great and Small #1
If Only They Could Talk
For more than 25 years, James Herriot captivated millions of readers and TV viewers with tales of the triumphs, disasters, pride and sometimes heartache that filled his life as a vet. This is the first volume of his memoirs.
MP3 Book
First published January 1, 1970
302 people are currently reading
9004 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
267 books3,349 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 516 reviews
September 29, 2015
James Alfred Wight, the British veterinary surgeon and writer, is renowned for his semi-autobiographical works written under the name 'James Herriot', which chronicle some of the most amusing moments from his life as a veterinarian. His reminiscences as a surgeon are pleasantly mild and warm to read and his style of narration that describe his adventures with the animals and their owners is of the most hilarious form that can make even the most serious of the reader burst out in a laugh. Apart from being incredibly entertaining, Herriot’s books also offer a historical perspective at the practice of veterinary science that was followed in Britain during the time period.
In ‘If Only They Could Talk’, the first book in a series of his semi-autobiographies, the reader gets acquainted with a young James Herriot, just out of veterinary college, taking up a rural practice in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire during late 1930s. In the narrative he creates a fictional village called ‘Darrowby’ based on the town of Thirsk and the surroundings rural areas, which act as the perfect setting for describing his amusing experiences about the early days of his veterinary career.
He joins as an assistant to the eccentric 'Siegfried Farnon' – based on the actual veterinary surgeon ‘Donald Sinclair’ under which James Wight originally practiced in Thirsk - the veterinarian in ‘Darrowby’ who is portrayed by Herriot as a bombastic yet good-hearted character. Herriot who was hoping for some tranquil life at the rural Darrowby soon finds himself literally knee-deep in highly amusing adventures in which the farmers, animals and a bunch of other characters - like 'Siegfried Farnon' and his lazy brother ‘Tristan Farnon’ - adding to the merry. In the very first chapter we initially meet Herriot while he is performing a calving right in the middle of a winter night, drenched in sweat, blood, snow and mud, and wondering about the situation he is in when compared to the squeaky clean picture of a veterinary surgeon performing a calving that was provided in his obstetrics book while training.
This observation, which lightens the mood along with some comical dialogs that ensues with cow’s owner, sets the tone for the book. Even while at the end of his wits, we find a character who finds amusement from simple things from his surroundings which adds that extra bit of appeal even in his descriptions of surgeries and other animal medical conditions, which can be a bit squeamish if described in dry medical terms.
The imaginative power of James Herriot and his capacity as a storyteller are praiseworthy as these amusing stories are not dry descriptions of incidents from his days as a veterinary surgeon, but they are often spruced up by the author with smartly crafted elements of humor to evoke absolute joy and laughter in the reader. He is also a sharp observer of the people, animals and their association in an agrarian society as these stories offer a delightful insight born out of his observations into the country life of Yorkshire. The life of the farmers and the role of animals in their emotions of happiness, accomplishment, sadness and even heartbreak are all portrayed by Herriot with the flair of a master narrator.
‘If only they could talk’ undoubtedly is at its pinnacle when it comes to the descriptions of the landscape in which the book is set and is among one of the best countryside books I have ever read. These wonderful tales with their morsels of emotions like elation, sorrow, and humiliation all flamboyantly honeyed with humor can delight both the general reader and lovers of animal stories.
Actual rating: 4.5/5
In ‘If Only They Could Talk’, the first book in a series of his semi-autobiographies, the reader gets acquainted with a young James Herriot, just out of veterinary college, taking up a rural practice in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire during late 1930s. In the narrative he creates a fictional village called ‘Darrowby’ based on the town of Thirsk and the surroundings rural areas, which act as the perfect setting for describing his amusing experiences about the early days of his veterinary career.
He joins as an assistant to the eccentric 'Siegfried Farnon' – based on the actual veterinary surgeon ‘Donald Sinclair’ under which James Wight originally practiced in Thirsk - the veterinarian in ‘Darrowby’ who is portrayed by Herriot as a bombastic yet good-hearted character. Herriot who was hoping for some tranquil life at the rural Darrowby soon finds himself literally knee-deep in highly amusing adventures in which the farmers, animals and a bunch of other characters - like 'Siegfried Farnon' and his lazy brother ‘Tristan Farnon’ - adding to the merry. In the very first chapter we initially meet Herriot while he is performing a calving right in the middle of a winter night, drenched in sweat, blood, snow and mud, and wondering about the situation he is in when compared to the squeaky clean picture of a veterinary surgeon performing a calving that was provided in his obstetrics book while training.
“My mind went back to that picture in the obstetrics book. A cow standing in the middle of a gleaming floor while a sleek veterinary surgeon in a spotless parturition overall inserted his arm to a polite distance. He was relaxed and smiling, the farmer and his helpers were smiling, even the cow was smiling.
That man in the picture had just finished an excellent lunch and had moved next door to do a bit of calving just for the sheer pleasure of it, as a kind of dessert.”
This observation, which lightens the mood along with some comical dialogs that ensues with cow’s owner, sets the tone for the book. Even while at the end of his wits, we find a character who finds amusement from simple things from his surroundings which adds that extra bit of appeal even in his descriptions of surgeries and other animal medical conditions, which can be a bit squeamish if described in dry medical terms.
The imaginative power of James Herriot and his capacity as a storyteller are praiseworthy as these amusing stories are not dry descriptions of incidents from his days as a veterinary surgeon, but they are often spruced up by the author with smartly crafted elements of humor to evoke absolute joy and laughter in the reader. He is also a sharp observer of the people, animals and their association in an agrarian society as these stories offer a delightful insight born out of his observations into the country life of Yorkshire. The life of the farmers and the role of animals in their emotions of happiness, accomplishment, sadness and even heartbreak are all portrayed by Herriot with the flair of a master narrator.
‘If only they could talk’ undoubtedly is at its pinnacle when it comes to the descriptions of the landscape in which the book is set and is among one of the best countryside books I have ever read. These wonderful tales with their morsels of emotions like elation, sorrow, and humiliation all flamboyantly honeyed with humor can delight both the general reader and lovers of animal stories.
Actual rating: 4.5/5
February 17, 2025
I have a special nostalgic fondness for this particular edition of If Only They Could Talk. It was not the first edition: that was in hardback in 1970, but this was the first paperback, in 1973. The book flew off the shelves - especially in towns and cities in Yorkshire. If Only They Could Talk is a humorous autobiographical account of the first year’s practice of the British vet “James Herriot” (whose real name was Alf Wight) in the Yorkshire Dales. This short book made us all smile, in the bitter Yorkshire winter weather.
The stories were unexpectedly successful, and are still widely read as part of a collection titled “All Creatures Great and Small”. If Only They Could Talk comprises the first 31 chapters of “All Creatures Great and Small”, issued later, and which I shall review separately.
The stories were unexpectedly successful, and are still widely read as part of a collection titled “All Creatures Great and Small”. If Only They Could Talk comprises the first 31 chapters of “All Creatures Great and Small”, issued later, and which I shall review separately.
April 12, 2018
Arriving in the small Yorkshire village of Darrowby newly qualified veterinary surgeon, James Herriot has no idea what is in store for him. Having only been qualified for the last seven months, James knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was up to the challenge or so he believed.
James quickly learnt that dealing with animals was sometimes easier than dealing with people, especially farming people who were used to doing things their own way. Unfortunately the textbooks never told you about the long hours, sleepless nights, freezing cold or the scorching heat. James went about his work each day doing what he loved and hoped in time that those who weren't too sure about him would come around and see what a great job he was performing.
I loved this book, absolutely loved it. A little book that had so much going on with laugh out loud moments as well as sad moments. If like me you love animals then I suggest you grab a copy of this book. A beautifully written story set in the 1930's that takes you along a journey unlike any other. Highly recommended.
James quickly learnt that dealing with animals was sometimes easier than dealing with people, especially farming people who were used to doing things their own way. Unfortunately the textbooks never told you about the long hours, sleepless nights, freezing cold or the scorching heat. James went about his work each day doing what he loved and hoped in time that those who weren't too sure about him would come around and see what a great job he was performing.
I loved this book, absolutely loved it. A little book that had so much going on with laugh out loud moments as well as sad moments. If like me you love animals then I suggest you grab a copy of this book. A beautifully written story set in the 1930's that takes you along a journey unlike any other. Highly recommended.
February 28, 2022
I don’t write reviews.
And do I even read anymore? Yes I surely do, but I’m reading far too many books at once to even see progress. Of course that’s not why I read. Books like James Herriot’s (Alf Wight’s) are. These stories are touching and funny and kind and crazy. They remind me of my days as a veterinary technician. They remind me of times I’ve never knew. People I’ve seen, but haven’t met. Or people I’ve met, but never really known. I think just about anyone would enjoy these episodic adventures of a veterinary in the Yorkshire Dales.
I am into the 1978 television series as well. The casting was thoughtful and it had fine pacing.
And do I even read anymore? Yes I surely do, but I’m reading far too many books at once to even see progress. Of course that’s not why I read. Books like James Herriot’s (Alf Wight’s) are. These stories are touching and funny and kind and crazy. They remind me of my days as a veterinary technician. They remind me of times I’ve never knew. People I’ve seen, but haven’t met. Or people I’ve met, but never really known. I think just about anyone would enjoy these episodic adventures of a veterinary in the Yorkshire Dales.
I am into the 1978 television series as well. The casting was thoughtful and it had fine pacing.
May 12, 2023
As a rule, I never re-read books. To me, it seems like a waste of precious reading time. There are exceptions to every rule, though, and the books by James Herriot are one of those. I mostly read them as in-between books: When I’ve finished a book and cannot review it right away as I usually would, I open a Herriot and am right back in his beloved Yorkshire Dales.
"If Only They Could Talk" is the first of a series of books that are essentially memoirs of Herriot's experiences as a young veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales, beginning in the 1930s. It is a heartwarming and humorous account of his encounters with animals and their owners, as well as his struggles to establish himself as a veterinarian in a rural community.
Herriot's love for both animals and people shines through in his writing. He has a great empathy for both his animal patients and their owners, and he portrays them with warmth, humour, and a deep respect. He admires and celebrates the majestic bovines and their proud owners but nobody is beneath him - he helps the impoverished old man and his dying dog just as kindly and empathetically as everyone else.
He portrays them as hardworking, down-to-earth, and deeply connected to the land and the animals they care for.
One of the things that makes Herriot's books so special is his ability to capture the unique personalities and quirks of the animals he encounters: From mischievous cattle and stubborn horses to spoiled Pekinese Tricky-Woo; Herriot has a special talent for bringing them to life on the page, and his descriptions of their behaviour and mannerisms are both funny and touching.
Overall, Herriot's books are a testament to the power of compassion, empathy, and love, both for animals and for our fellow human beings. They are a joy to read, laugh-out-loud funny at times, heart-wrenching at others, and they remind us of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, as well as the importance of kindness and connection in our lives.
Once more, five stars out of five.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Pinterest | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
"If Only They Could Talk" is the first of a series of books that are essentially memoirs of Herriot's experiences as a young veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales, beginning in the 1930s. It is a heartwarming and humorous account of his encounters with animals and their owners, as well as his struggles to establish himself as a veterinarian in a rural community.
Herriot's love for both animals and people shines through in his writing. He has a great empathy for both his animal patients and their owners, and he portrays them with warmth, humour, and a deep respect. He admires and celebrates the majestic bovines and their proud owners but nobody is beneath him - he helps the impoverished old man and his dying dog just as kindly and empathetically as everyone else.
He portrays them as hardworking, down-to-earth, and deeply connected to the land and the animals they care for.
One of the things that makes Herriot's books so special is his ability to capture the unique personalities and quirks of the animals he encounters: From mischievous cattle and stubborn horses to spoiled Pekinese Tricky-Woo; Herriot has a special talent for bringing them to life on the page, and his descriptions of their behaviour and mannerisms are both funny and touching.
Overall, Herriot's books are a testament to the power of compassion, empathy, and love, both for animals and for our fellow human beings. They are a joy to read, laugh-out-loud funny at times, heart-wrenching at others, and they remind us of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, as well as the importance of kindness and connection in our lives.
Once more, five stars out of five.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Pinterest | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
August 17, 2015
This book made me cry. I had a hard time catching my breath. It was so damn funny. It was also poignant. I love the time period - 1930s - and the locale - York. This took me forever to read. It's basically vignettes so I'd read one story and set the book down for a week. But I prefer to think of it as savoring. It was so good, and extremely well written. The humor sprung up naturally from the situations and never seemed forced. I really can't recommend this enough. I know, I know, I'm late to this party - this book has been out for 40 years and I'm just now discovering it - but that doesn't make it any less impressive. Enjoy.
May 11, 2021
What a breath of fresh air this book was!!!
I wanted to read something different and I have had this book for a while. Having loved and watched the original series on tv and then thoroughly enjoyed the recent new adaptation I thought I'd give it a go. I loved it!
The author has a wonderful way of telling the stories. Some are sad and some are down right hilarious.
The portrayal of Siegfried is exactly as shown on the screen and it was brilliant. He was a fantastic character.
I've already ordered the next two in the series. Well worth a read.
I wanted to read something different and I have had this book for a while. Having loved and watched the original series on tv and then thoroughly enjoyed the recent new adaptation I thought I'd give it a go. I loved it!
The author has a wonderful way of telling the stories. Some are sad and some are down right hilarious.
The portrayal of Siegfried is exactly as shown on the screen and it was brilliant. He was a fantastic character.
I've already ordered the next two in the series. Well worth a read.
February 18, 2024
2 words:
Tricki Woo.
IYKYK.
Tricki Woo.
IYKYK.
September 25, 2022
Šī gramata un tās galvenais varonis jaunais veterinārārsts mani burtiski apbūra! Asprātīgi, ar sirsnību un ļoti “britiski” - noteikti lasīšu arī visus pārējos šīs sērijas darbus. Sen nebiju skaļi ķiķinājusi lasīšanas laikā 😎 (Grāmatas vāks gaužām maldinošs un par to ļoti žēl…)
August 22, 2023
اتفاقاتی که جیمز هریوت ۱۰۰ سال پیش تجربه کرده، بی دخل و تصرف من دارم تجربه میکنم.
September 19, 2023
I have watched the lovely BBC series (the remake) of this and it is super heartwarming, funny, and cozy, so my partner and I decided to do a read aloud of the first of the books. It is virtually the same, very heartwarming, funny, and cozy. This series centers around James Herriot, young Veterinarian, who juts got a job with Siegfried Farnon, who owns a practice. Siegfried is way different in the book (I liked him better in the show) but he's still fun. There are lots of zany characters and absurd situations that James finds himself in. In this book at least, there's really nothing heavy, it's all just entertaining, fun, and light, but very well written. You do have to have a strong stomach to hear about some of the procedures James does. Great, fun read.
September 24, 2012
Ini betul-betul salah satu buku yang mempengaruhi hidupku :). Alf Wight, seorang dokter hewan dari Yorkshire, menovelisasi hidupnya dan menggunakan nama samaran James Herriot.
James Herriot adalah anak muda yang pemalu tapi kreatif dan bersemangat tinggi. Lulus sebagai dokter hewan di Skotlandia, ia memperoleh tempat kerja di sebuah kota kecil bernama Darrowby di daerah Yorkshire di Inggris. Atasannya seorang dokter hewan Siegfried Farnon, yang cerdas namun eksentrik dan pelupa, dan hidupnya sering diwarnai dengan paradoks. Tak lama, bergabung pula Tristan Farnon, adik Siegfried yang memiliki sifat jauh berbeda — ia periang, ceroboh, namun selalu beruntung. Mereka membentuk persahabatan yang unik dan hangat, sambil bekerja keras (kadang siang malam) menyembuhkan bermacam hewan besar dan kecil, milik para petani dan peternak di Yorkshire, yang umumnya pekerja yang jujur, keras, namun tulus.
Ada kisah keberhasilan saat Herriot dan tim secara cerdas atau secara kebetulan dapat mendiagnosis penyakit dan menyembuhkannya. Ada kisah mengharukan saat Herriot harus memberikan penenang permanen kepada hewan yang terkena kanker untuk melepas penderitaannya. Ada banyak sekali kelucuan saat Siegfried yang sok efisien harus terperangkap prinsip-prinsipnya, atau sekedar oleh kepikunannya yang luar biasa. Dan banyak hiburan akibat keusilan Tristan yang tak pernah habis. Tapi yang tak pernah membosankan adalah komitmen Herriot untuk setiap saat membantu makhluk hidup yang menderita, biarpun kadang ia harus melampiaskan kekesalan dan kemarahan; dan selalu diakhiri oleh kembalinya kesadaran bahwa hidup itu ajaib, lucu, agung, dan tak pernah membosankan.
Darrowby adalah nama samaran dari kota Thirsk di Yorkshire, tak jauh dari York. Buku Herriot yang penuh keajaiban ini akhirnya membawa aku di tahun 2010 ke kota Darrowby untuk mengikuti kembali jejak perjalanan James Herriot di kota kesayangannya itu. Thirsk masih jadi kota kecil yang tenang, dengan marketplace dan jam kota yang sama dengan yang digambarkan di buku ini, dikelilingi koperasi yang sudah modern, bar, bank, toko permen :).
James Herriot adalah anak muda yang pemalu tapi kreatif dan bersemangat tinggi. Lulus sebagai dokter hewan di Skotlandia, ia memperoleh tempat kerja di sebuah kota kecil bernama Darrowby di daerah Yorkshire di Inggris. Atasannya seorang dokter hewan Siegfried Farnon, yang cerdas namun eksentrik dan pelupa, dan hidupnya sering diwarnai dengan paradoks. Tak lama, bergabung pula Tristan Farnon, adik Siegfried yang memiliki sifat jauh berbeda — ia periang, ceroboh, namun selalu beruntung. Mereka membentuk persahabatan yang unik dan hangat, sambil bekerja keras (kadang siang malam) menyembuhkan bermacam hewan besar dan kecil, milik para petani dan peternak di Yorkshire, yang umumnya pekerja yang jujur, keras, namun tulus.
Ada kisah keberhasilan saat Herriot dan tim secara cerdas atau secara kebetulan dapat mendiagnosis penyakit dan menyembuhkannya. Ada kisah mengharukan saat Herriot harus memberikan penenang permanen kepada hewan yang terkena kanker untuk melepas penderitaannya. Ada banyak sekali kelucuan saat Siegfried yang sok efisien harus terperangkap prinsip-prinsipnya, atau sekedar oleh kepikunannya yang luar biasa. Dan banyak hiburan akibat keusilan Tristan yang tak pernah habis. Tapi yang tak pernah membosankan adalah komitmen Herriot untuk setiap saat membantu makhluk hidup yang menderita, biarpun kadang ia harus melampiaskan kekesalan dan kemarahan; dan selalu diakhiri oleh kembalinya kesadaran bahwa hidup itu ajaib, lucu, agung, dan tak pernah membosankan.
Darrowby adalah nama samaran dari kota Thirsk di Yorkshire, tak jauh dari York. Buku Herriot yang penuh keajaiban ini akhirnya membawa aku di tahun 2010 ke kota Darrowby untuk mengikuti kembali jejak perjalanan James Herriot di kota kesayangannya itu. Thirsk masih jadi kota kecil yang tenang, dengan marketplace dan jam kota yang sama dengan yang digambarkan di buku ini, dikelilingi koperasi yang sudah modern, bar, bank, toko permen :).
May 20, 2015
This had me guffawing with laughter in places. Such a warm and cosy read too - in spite of the often harsh life being described (it was freezing up on the Yorkshire moors in winter).
What an endearing bunch of characters. It was a bedtime read, and I realised that every night I was looking forward to going to bed, just so I could read some more....
Excellent.
What an endearing bunch of characters. It was a bedtime read, and I realised that every night I was looking forward to going to bed, just so I could read some more....
Excellent.
February 22, 2025
Just a really warm, comforting and funny read to get through the darker months. The result has been a new desire to relocate my whole life to the Dales
June 19, 2014
Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love animals. What many may not know is how author James Herriot's books inspired me to be a veterinarian. As a child, the answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up" was always "a vet."
While that childhood dream did not come true, I have never lost the fondness for Herriot's work. So, when this book turned up on our office swap shelf, I nabbed it.
"If Only They Could Talk" is a UK-issued book consisting of selected stories from All Creatures Great And Small. I was glad to see some of my long-time favorites from Herriot's little Darrowby community, like Mrs. Pumphrey and her precious Tricki Woo, the selection of laconic farmers with their cows, and (of course) the irrepressible Farnon brothers with whom Herriot practices.
As I read this book, it felt like I was spending time with a dear old friend. Sure, all of the stories were known to me from previous reading; it didn't matter one bit, because I still smiled just as broadly as the first time I read them.
While that childhood dream did not come true, I have never lost the fondness for Herriot's work. So, when this book turned up on our office swap shelf, I nabbed it.
"If Only They Could Talk" is a UK-issued book consisting of selected stories from All Creatures Great And Small. I was glad to see some of my long-time favorites from Herriot's little Darrowby community, like Mrs. Pumphrey and her precious Tricki Woo, the selection of laconic farmers with their cows, and (of course) the irrepressible Farnon brothers with whom Herriot practices.
As I read this book, it felt like I was spending time with a dear old friend. Sure, all of the stories were known to me from previous reading; it didn't matter one bit, because I still smiled just as broadly as the first time I read them.
December 4, 2018
Ένα από τα λίγα χιουμοριστικά best sellers των εκδόσεων 'Bell' που, κυριολεκτικά, 'τα σπάει'. Ο Herriot εμπνέεται από την ζωή του και την εργασιακή του εμπειρία ως κτηνίατρος και μάς μεταφέρει στην επαρχιακή Αγγλία της δεκαετίας του '30 'χτίζοντας' σταδιακά μια ξεκαρδιστική ιστορία γεμάτη ηθογραφικά στοιχεία και αστεία περιστατικά με κατοικίδια ζώα. Το βιβλίο έχει ζωντάνια, πρωτοτυπία, πολλές 'εικόνες' από τη φύση της αγγλικής υπαίθρου σε σημείο που ο αναγνώστης να εύχεται αυτά τα ζώα να μπορούσαν.... να μιλήσουν.
Αρχικά, το βιβλίο είχε γνωρίσει μεγαλύτερη εμπορική επιτυχία στις Η.Π.Α. από τη Μεγάλη Βρετανία, ενώ βασίστηκε στο βιβλίο καί η αντίστοιχη αγγλική τηλεοπτική σειρά στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '70.
Βαθμολογία: 4,5/5 ή 9/10.
Υ.Γ.: Ένα βιβλίο που αξίζει να επανεκδοθεί!
Αρχικά, το βιβλίο είχε γνωρίσει μεγαλύτερη εμπορική επιτυχία στις Η.Π.Α. από τη Μεγάλη Βρετανία, ενώ βασίστηκε στο βιβλίο καί η αντίστοιχη αγγλική τηλεοπτική σειρά στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '70.
Βαθμολογία: 4,5/5 ή 9/10.
Υ.Γ.: Ένα βιβλίο που αξίζει να επανεκδοθεί!
December 17, 2017
Ineffable joy! Beautifully-written, lots of laugh out loud moments, stories of the author's first year of practice as a newly-qualified vet in the Yorkshire Dales. Set in the late 1930s, dark times in many ways with the Second World War brewing, but greatly comforting in the humour and shared humanity shown. I was talking to someone yesterday and she told me she often went back to Herriot's books in difficult times. I see from my name and date bought on the flyleaf that I first read these 40 years ago. Wow! Times flies, indeed!
January 3, 2023
Nezinu nevienu citu grāmatu, kur galvenais varonis lielāko daļu epizodēs ir iebāzis roku kādā lielā mājdzīvniekā. Nesavieb seju nepatīkamā grimmasē, galu galā tāda ir skarbā realitāte, ja esi nolēmis savu profesionālo ceļu brist lauku dubļos. Jā, jā, vetārsts ar mīļiem mājdzīvniekiem sterilā kabinetā, atrodas lielpilsētā. 1930.gadi jaunam vetārstam no universitātes sola dziļos laukos nozīmēja negulētas naktis, nogurdinoši attālumi un nebeidzami izsaukumi, pieņemot dzemdības govīm, zirgiem, aitām, kā arī ārstējot neskaitāmus mājlopus. Bet, ja vien visas rūpes aprobežotos ar dzīvniekiem. Izrādās, ka tikpat liela noņemšanās ir ar to saimniekiem. Skarbo lopkopju visgudrība un lielā mīlestība pret saviem četrkājainajiem draugiem bieži vien izrādās traucējoša un kurioza.
Nav iespējams nelasīt šos jaunā vetārsta emuārus nesmejoties, brīžiem izdvešot tādas skaņas, it kā smiekli nāktu no aploka. Heriots, kurš visu dzīvi veltījis smagajam vetārsta darbam, māk tik ironiski izstāstīt savus piedzīvojumus, ka brīžiem gribas viņu apskaust. Ne gluži par negulētām naktīm un spītīgām ragainēm vai trakiem kumeļiem, bet gan aizraujošo ikdienu, kurā viņam palaimējies nodoties savam sirdsdarbam. Bet, kas gan būtu viņa ikdiena, ja viņš nebūtu tik prasmīgs rakstnieks. Savās grāmatās viņš brutiski uzbur lauku dzīvi, robustos cilvēkus, mūždien saspringto darbošanos.
Ja esi sirdī dzīvnieku mīlis, šī grāmata ir jāizlasa- humors savijoties ar ikdienas skarbumu pavērs durvju šķirbiņu uz 30.to gadu lauku šarmu.
Dzirkstoši aizraujoši un smieklīgi izklaidējoši.
4 zvaigznes
Nav iespējams nelasīt šos jaunā vetārsta emuārus nesmejoties, brīžiem izdvešot tādas skaņas, it kā smiekli nāktu no aploka. Heriots, kurš visu dzīvi veltījis smagajam vetārsta darbam, māk tik ironiski izstāstīt savus piedzīvojumus, ka brīžiem gribas viņu apskaust. Ne gluži par negulētām naktīm un spītīgām ragainēm vai trakiem kumeļiem, bet gan aizraujošo ikdienu, kurā viņam palaimējies nodoties savam sirdsdarbam. Bet, kas gan būtu viņa ikdiena, ja viņš nebūtu tik prasmīgs rakstnieks. Savās grāmatās viņš brutiski uzbur lauku dzīvi, robustos cilvēkus, mūždien saspringto darbošanos.
Ja esi sirdī dzīvnieku mīlis, šī grāmata ir jāizlasa- humors savijoties ar ikdienas skarbumu pavērs durvju šķirbiņu uz 30.to gadu lauku šarmu.
Dzirkstoši aizraujoši un smieklīgi izklaidējoši.
4 zvaigznes
October 10, 2020
I've read all of Herriot's books, but long ago. Like, more than twenty years ago. I am happy to say that I loved this one all over again. Herriot had me laughing at least once a chapter. Sometimes, I laughed so much, I had to put my book down and wipe my eyes. I adore his humor, so dry and absurdity-based and British. My goodness, what writing.
I always thought that these were strictly non-fiction, told in a funny way, but I learned recently that Herriot did fictionalize some of his stories. And many of the ones that supposedly occur in the 1930s and '40s are based on things that actually happened in the '60s and '70s, when he was writing. You know what? I don't even care. It's Herriot's writing that delights me, after all, not whether or not these things actually happened exactly as he sets them down.
I always thought that these were strictly non-fiction, told in a funny way, but I learned recently that Herriot did fictionalize some of his stories. And many of the ones that supposedly occur in the 1930s and '40s are based on things that actually happened in the '60s and '70s, when he was writing. You know what? I don't even care. It's Herriot's writing that delights me, after all, not whether or not these things actually happened exactly as he sets them down.
July 31, 2016
A pretty funny account of the life of a young vet in Yorkshire, with interesting characters, both animal and human.
It was a really hard world, before antibiotics and modern medicines, out in the freezing countryside at all hours, but he was content with that life, and that comes through his writing.
It was a really hard world, before antibiotics and modern medicines, out in the freezing countryside at all hours, but he was content with that life, and that comes through his writing.
November 30, 2020
4.75
کتاب روان و جالبی بود. با دید منفی رفتم سمتش ولی واقعا نظرمو عوض کرد. برای زمان هایی که کتاب سختی رو تموم کردین و کتاب روان و بامزه میخواین مناسبه مخصوصا اینکه عاشق حیوونا باشید چون نویسنده ش دامپزشکه و از شروع به کارش و اتفاقاتی که براش افتاد میگه. ترجمه کمی مشکل داشت ولی خللی تو لذت بردنم وارد نکرد.
کتاب روان و جالبی بود. با دید منفی رفتم سمتش ولی واقعا نظرمو عوض کرد. برای زمان هایی که کتاب سختی رو تموم کردین و کتاب روان و بامزه میخواین مناسبه مخصوصا اینکه عاشق حیوونا باشید چون نویسنده ش دامپزشکه و از شروع به کارش و اتفاقاتی که براش افتاد میگه. ترجمه کمی مشکل داشت ولی خللی تو لذت بردنم وارد نکرد.
January 30, 2021
Čteno v rámci čtenářského klubu. Suma sumárum: docela spokojenost. Sama bych si ji nevybrala, takže tímto mi Klub posloužil v rozšíření obzorů. Myslela jsem si, že to bude nějaký ten roztomilý veterinář, který popisuje srdceryvné historky o nemocných psech , nečekala jsem meziválečný anglický venkov, samorostlé farmáře a zběsilého veterináře a jeho bratra. Krajina nádherná, dobytek děsivý, když uvážím, že je to jeho prvotina, tak je autor borec. Nejlepší na tom fakt byl ten kout Anglie :)
November 10, 2022
Eh, patīk! Tāda sajūta, ka katru reizi lasi stāstus par saviem cilvēkiem!
July 27, 2013
So where do I start?
James Herriot, or in truth, James Alfred Wright, is a master storyteller, whose ability to paint scenes and emotions with only his words is truly astounding. How anyone can write so elegantly, and truthfully, is a rare and astonishing thing. His memoirs should truly be cherished, this first book setting an excellent scene for many humorous and poignant works.
However, when asked what i was reading by the many people who always strive for conversation when you are quite content in silence reading your novel, all convinced you surely could not be doing so by sheer delight you have actually found time in an increasingly busy day, but rather through your lack of social skills, and therefor, friends, i was astounded of how unknown these amazing works are. It is an increasingly sore spot for me, to find people who don't know such great work. Not for their ignorance; i too am unaware of the overall plots of many famous works, but rather my own inability to describe something great.
I am not really sure how it happens. My ability to describe works has always been lacking, though only in a spoken sense. Sure, i can write my feelings after a minute or so meditation how to phrase my emotions, but in a conversation, this moment is taken away. I am left, standing there, knowing if i respond too slowly, the asker will label me completely stupid, or an inability to speak, no doubt explaining their previous views of my (!INTENTIONAL!) solitude. So i sort of blab about how good it is, in a vague way because
a) my head is still in the book
and
b) I get a bit ahead of myself.
Example. A teacher asks what i am reading. '1984' i reply, a classic, well known work, and one of George Orwell's greatest pieces. Instead, i vaguely describe of how
'it was his oppinion during the late 40's how he thought England would turn out if it went down the path of communism'.
Nothing on the masterpiece of words, the thought out plot, the detail that Orwell describes extensively, not even mentioning the main characters. Or the ending....
And i have a similar problem with this book. It is so well written, technically memoirs, but reads much more like a story. As we know, the characters are real, but renamed, and all events actually happened, though on some research, the order of which are most likely changed, to create the flow i was talking about.
We begin by looking at James Herriot, a recently qualified vet struggling to make it in pre-WW2 England, where his trade is rather dwindling due to the invention of the tractor, and therefor, the downsizing of the work horse, and lack of household pets during a time when animals truly (and mostly) earned their keep. It is here a magical tale begins, as his life's work unfolds before us.
If you are even slightly interested in animals, stories, people, romance, England, and Vets, this is the book for you. I should mention that you will COMPLETELY fall in love with the settings, and if you do enjoy the books, they made a rather good, and very accurate, series of it. Of course, the books are better, but a noble effort to do justice to a magnificent piece.
Happy Reading!!!
-M
James Herriot, or in truth, James Alfred Wright, is a master storyteller, whose ability to paint scenes and emotions with only his words is truly astounding. How anyone can write so elegantly, and truthfully, is a rare and astonishing thing. His memoirs should truly be cherished, this first book setting an excellent scene for many humorous and poignant works.
However, when asked what i was reading by the many people who always strive for conversation when you are quite content in silence reading your novel, all convinced you surely could not be doing so by sheer delight you have actually found time in an increasingly busy day, but rather through your lack of social skills, and therefor, friends, i was astounded of how unknown these amazing works are. It is an increasingly sore spot for me, to find people who don't know such great work. Not for their ignorance; i too am unaware of the overall plots of many famous works, but rather my own inability to describe something great.
I am not really sure how it happens. My ability to describe works has always been lacking, though only in a spoken sense. Sure, i can write my feelings after a minute or so meditation how to phrase my emotions, but in a conversation, this moment is taken away. I am left, standing there, knowing if i respond too slowly, the asker will label me completely stupid, or an inability to speak, no doubt explaining their previous views of my (!INTENTIONAL!) solitude. So i sort of blab about how good it is, in a vague way because
a) my head is still in the book
and
b) I get a bit ahead of myself.
Example. A teacher asks what i am reading. '1984' i reply, a classic, well known work, and one of George Orwell's greatest pieces. Instead, i vaguely describe of how
'it was his oppinion during the late 40's how he thought England would turn out if it went down the path of communism'.
Nothing on the masterpiece of words, the thought out plot, the detail that Orwell describes extensively, not even mentioning the main characters. Or the ending....
And i have a similar problem with this book. It is so well written, technically memoirs, but reads much more like a story. As we know, the characters are real, but renamed, and all events actually happened, though on some research, the order of which are most likely changed, to create the flow i was talking about.
We begin by looking at James Herriot, a recently qualified vet struggling to make it in pre-WW2 England, where his trade is rather dwindling due to the invention of the tractor, and therefor, the downsizing of the work horse, and lack of household pets during a time when animals truly (and mostly) earned their keep. It is here a magical tale begins, as his life's work unfolds before us.
If you are even slightly interested in animals, stories, people, romance, England, and Vets, this is the book for you. I should mention that you will COMPLETELY fall in love with the settings, and if you do enjoy the books, they made a rather good, and very accurate, series of it. Of course, the books are better, but a noble effort to do justice to a magnificent piece.
Happy Reading!!!
-M
June 22, 2016
Suka banget dengan cerita-ceritanya si James di buku ini...
Suka dengan penggambaran alam pedesaan dan orang-orangnya serta uniknya duo Farnon yang kadang bikin terpingkal-pingkal sendiri.
Dalam bayangan saya, si James ini menceritakan kejadian lucu yang dialaminya dengan muka lempeng, soalnya bahasanya juga lempeng aja sih...cuma pembaca yang membayangkan situasinya yang ga bisa menahan tawa.
Contohnya pas Sigfried menekankan pentingnya kebersihan dalam penanganan kasus hewan, malah jadi konyol karena ternyata kondisi di lapangan tidak berjalan sesuai harapan.
Buku ini benar-benar menghibur, sampai saya langsung ingin mengulang membacanya lagi setelah halaman terakhir ditutup.
Suka dengan penggambaran alam pedesaan dan orang-orangnya serta uniknya duo Farnon yang kadang bikin terpingkal-pingkal sendiri.
Dalam bayangan saya, si James ini menceritakan kejadian lucu yang dialaminya dengan muka lempeng, soalnya bahasanya juga lempeng aja sih...cuma pembaca yang membayangkan situasinya yang ga bisa menahan tawa.
Contohnya pas Sigfried menekankan pentingnya kebersihan dalam penanganan kasus hewan, malah jadi konyol karena ternyata kondisi di lapangan tidak berjalan sesuai harapan.
Buku ini benar-benar menghibur, sampai saya langsung ingin mengulang membacanya lagi setelah halaman terakhir ditutup.
December 31, 2017
As charming as I remembered it, and very interesting. Warm and perfect for out-loud reading with family. Took us a good while to get to the end, but the time was well-spent.
August 16, 2025
adored the show, and I adored the book just as much! would recommened to anyone who has a soft spot for animals. best part is how the yorkshire landscape came to life.
November 15, 2009
What a wonderful trip down memory lane this book was. I remember watching the TV series back in the 70's and 80's and picking this book up for the first time was like settling down by the fire with old friends.
Set in the Yorkshire Dales, this is the first book in a series by rookie vet James Herriot and his new life in the countryside and among the animals and his struggle to win over the old Yorkshire farmers and eccentric characters he meets there. There were so many times when I literally laughed out loud (once in a quiet hospital corridor while waiting for someone to come out of the theatre - which got me a few horrified looks!). The character of Mrs Pumphrey and her dog Tricki Woo had me bent over crying with laughter!
I just loved this book. I live in Yorkshire, about an hour from the Dales, and it has made me want to jump in my car and head off to Herriot country; the whole place just came alive with his passion for the region. I am really looking forward to reading the rest in the series - this is the sort of comfort reading that I know I can look forward to if I need a break from real life. In the words of James Herriot while describing his beloved countryside - I felt like I could breathe. This book is a real tonic - highly recommended.
Set in the Yorkshire Dales, this is the first book in a series by rookie vet James Herriot and his new life in the countryside and among the animals and his struggle to win over the old Yorkshire farmers and eccentric characters he meets there. There were so many times when I literally laughed out loud (once in a quiet hospital corridor while waiting for someone to come out of the theatre - which got me a few horrified looks!). The character of Mrs Pumphrey and her dog Tricki Woo had me bent over crying with laughter!
I just loved this book. I live in Yorkshire, about an hour from the Dales, and it has made me want to jump in my car and head off to Herriot country; the whole place just came alive with his passion for the region. I am really looking forward to reading the rest in the series - this is the sort of comfort reading that I know I can look forward to if I need a break from real life. In the words of James Herriot while describing his beloved countryside - I felt like I could breathe. This book is a real tonic - highly recommended.
November 14, 2022
Because the previous book I read ('The Choice') was a bit on the heavy side emotional wise, I wanted a lighter read and found this first book in this series (6 books or even more followed) among my nature books on my bookshelves.
As long as I can remember , I always wanted to be a vet till I was around 17 when I found out , I wasn't doing too well with seeing the insides of animals. Many years later my vet needed some urgent assistance during a surgery on one of my dogs and I had no problem with seeing what I saw so maybe I missed my calling after all.
But about the book now. It's James Herriot (not his true name) telling about his life in the UK as a country vet in the 1930s. I remember watching in the 1980s some little tidbits of the British TV series 'All Creatures Great and Small', which is based on this book (and later ones as well).
To be honest, I was quite disappointed by this book. He talks way too much (in my opinion) about the weather, the ongoing discussions between his boss and his brother, their secretary and the animal owners instead of going into more details about treating the animals and the animals themselves, it's all quite superficial to me. I even struggled to finish this book.
Real score : 2.5 stars
As long as I can remember , I always wanted to be a vet till I was around 17 when I found out , I wasn't doing too well with seeing the insides of animals. Many years later my vet needed some urgent assistance during a surgery on one of my dogs and I had no problem with seeing what I saw so maybe I missed my calling after all.
But about the book now. It's James Herriot (not his true name) telling about his life in the UK as a country vet in the 1930s. I remember watching in the 1980s some little tidbits of the British TV series 'All Creatures Great and Small', which is based on this book (and later ones as well).
To be honest, I was quite disappointed by this book. He talks way too much (in my opinion) about the weather, the ongoing discussions between his boss and his brother, their secretary and the animal owners instead of going into more details about treating the animals and the animals themselves, it's all quite superficial to me. I even struggled to finish this book.
Real score : 2.5 stars
July 2, 2021
I thought I had read pretty much read all of James Herriot’s books, so stumbling across this one—and the name didn’t ring a bell—I was all excited about a ‘new’ Herriot. I didn’t even bother to read what it was about.
And it turns out this is something I’ve read before. Because All Creatures Great and Small, probably his best-known and best-loved book, was originally published in part as If Only They Could Talk. (All Creatures Great and Small also included It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet and Let Sleeping Vets Lie; these three books were on their own considered too short to be marketed as standalone books, and so were combined into a single volume).
In this one, the narrator, Herriot, having finished his studies in veterinary sciences, goes to a Yorkshire village named Darrowby to be assistant to the vet Seigfried Farnon. Seigfried’s eccentricities, his younger brother Tristan’s pranks, the animals, and the very interesting people who surround them: these make up the book. There is the wealthy Mrs Pumphrey and her pampered Pekingese, Tricki-Woo; there are farmers stolid and generous, mean and spiteful; there is the efficient and dutiful but imperious secretary Miss Harbottle. There are hair-raising anecdotes of cures and medical conditions, of the dangers of being a country vet, and the triumphs too. There is a bit, now and then, of the wild beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.
A very heartwarming, engrossing, often hilarious book. This has been a favourite of mine for nearly 35 years, so encountering it in another guise, I was more than happy to re-read it.
And it turns out this is something I’ve read before. Because All Creatures Great and Small, probably his best-known and best-loved book, was originally published in part as If Only They Could Talk. (All Creatures Great and Small also included It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet and Let Sleeping Vets Lie; these three books were on their own considered too short to be marketed as standalone books, and so were combined into a single volume).
In this one, the narrator, Herriot, having finished his studies in veterinary sciences, goes to a Yorkshire village named Darrowby to be assistant to the vet Seigfried Farnon. Seigfried’s eccentricities, his younger brother Tristan’s pranks, the animals, and the very interesting people who surround them: these make up the book. There is the wealthy Mrs Pumphrey and her pampered Pekingese, Tricki-Woo; there are farmers stolid and generous, mean and spiteful; there is the efficient and dutiful but imperious secretary Miss Harbottle. There are hair-raising anecdotes of cures and medical conditions, of the dangers of being a country vet, and the triumphs too. There is a bit, now and then, of the wild beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.
A very heartwarming, engrossing, often hilarious book. This has been a favourite of mine for nearly 35 years, so encountering it in another guise, I was more than happy to re-read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews