Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
252nd out of 8,319 books
—
39,470 voters
All Creatures Great and Small; And, All Things Bright and Beautiful
Twenty-five years ago, a volume of memoirs by an unknown Scottish veterinarian was first published--All Creatures Great and Small. Within a year, the book had become recognized as a masterpiece. It went on to sell millions of copies and began the marvelous series of books, beloved of readers all over the world, which have so far sold over 20 million copies in English alon...more
Hardcover, 378 pages
Published
November 1st 1999
by MJF Books
(first published 1972)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
I recently paid a nostalgic return journey to fictional Darrowby in Yorkshire, England, to read the warm, affectionate, earthy, hilarious memoirs of Dr. James Herriot, veterinary surgeon (circa mid 1930s -- 1970s). I couldn't put them down, nor could I read anything else until I'd consumed the entire series. Love his courtship with Helen, his partnership with Sigfried and Tristan, his convivial embrace of his warped fellowman, and his service to hairy critters everywhere. (Must add I'm also fond...more
I read the series as a teen, watched the PBS series whenever it ran and mourned when Herriot died. I even named one of my sons Tristan in part because I loved that character so much.
Herriot's an insightful observer of human nature and the perfect foil for the eccentrics in his rural community. His career coincided with all manner of scientific advances that competed with folk remedies and superstition in the minds of the people.
I've spent a small fortune on my dogs and cats so it's interesting...more
Herriot's an insightful observer of human nature and the perfect foil for the eccentrics in his rural community. His career coincided with all manner of scientific advances that competed with folk remedies and superstition in the minds of the people.
I've spent a small fortune on my dogs and cats so it's interesting...more
view 1 comment
Every few years I read these stories again and I always enjoy them as much as I did the first time. James Herriot(Alf White http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_He... such an interesting window into a unique time and place. I have always wondered if he was a naturally gifted writer or if he had a really good editor. Either way, these stories are so well-written that I enjoyed them although I would not say I am an animal-lover. I am an animal respecter, and I certainly believe we have responsibilit...more
The first scene caught my attention right off. He's saying, they never tell you about this in school, then he describes the scene he's in: its a dark, winter night, he's got his arm inside of a cow up to the elbow trying to maneuver the calf inside her. He's stripped to the waist, lying on the ground as the cow is and the only light is the lamp that the farmer is holding. That got my attention. This entire book is of one who lucks out and lands a great job and then discovers that he loves his jo...more
I loved this series of books. When I first read them in high school I wanted to move to Scotland and become a country veterinarian. I reread them again summer, and fell in love with them all over again. When James Herriot talks about how much he loves his job, driving around the country lanes with the windows down on a beautiful day, or taking his lunch breaks lying on his back in the grass staring up at the clouds in the sky, you wonder how you can stand another day of working in an office buil...more
Nov 27, 2008
Bailey Jane
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
animal lovers, teenage avid readers, adults, veterinarians, those who enjoy traveling
I read this book last year and thought it was really entertaining, but sometimes a little too long and drawn out. I would like to read it again now that I'm living on an island and not in downtown St. Louis. Maybe I'd appreciate a more laid-back novel. The main character is affable, relatable, humorous, and his veterinary adventures are definitely worth reading. This is a great book to read any time of the year. The descriptions of nature will be appreciated by anyone in any climate. :-)
It was great to settle in with an old friend. I read this series over & over in my childhood years, up through high school. James Herriot is why I wanted to be a vet--until I came up against chemistry, that is! I LOVELOVELOVE this entire series. His warmth, intuitive descriptions of his animal patients and their humans, and genuine delight of life are a wonderful gift to the world. I'm reviewing all the books in this series the same way, so you only have to read this review once! ; )
Jul 13, 2009
Tara
added it
Really fun. It makes me want to be a vet all over again, as if I were seven years old again. But it's so interesting to hear about the animal case studies and how he solved the malady, etc...Plus he paints such delightful pictures of the human clients he meets! The only thing that keeps this from being great literature is that the messages behind each little vignette are repeated. I wonder if he originally wrote them as installments in a newspaper as a columnist?
This is a great bedside book. Each chapter is a separate story so you can read a little and not feel compelled to finish the book in one sitting to find out how it ends. It's a pretty simple, wholesome book with some nice humor. I've read the whole series and I reread it now when I can't sleep. It sets my mind back on a good track and it's still enjoyable after multiple readings, but I can usually put it down and get back to sleep in 15 minutes.
I LOVE HERRIOT'S STORIES! I read all 4 of these books (including Wise and Wonderful and The Lord God Made Them All). Herriot's accounts of being a country vet in the 1940s are earthy and fascinating - I remember a scene where a sheep is trying to give birth to twins and Herriot has his sleeve rolled up and his arm inside the sheep trying to separate the tangled legs and bodies to bring the lambs into the world, alive ... powerful stuff. Many of the cat and dog stories are hysterically funny and...more
I realize I'm giving all these 'warm and fuzzy' books 4 or 5 stars, and there's almost nothing warmer or fuzzier than Herriot! So it would be a 5, but the pattern of the stories gets a wee bit monotonous. Kind of like House episodes. You know pretty much what's going to happen. Still, a love story within an animal-care story... and it's one of the best.
Twenty -five years ago, a volume of memiors by an unknown Scottish veterinarian was first published- All Creatures Great and Small. Within a year, the book had become recognized as a masterpiece. The pages are full of humour, warmth, pathos, drama and James Herriot's unique and richly justified love of life as he journeys across the Yorkshire dales. With his passion and love for his fellow creatures. Makes this book a must read.
Very interesting memoir! Being an animal lover, I personally thought his journeys were cool.
Even I you don't care for animals too much you'd be enticed by his journeys.He travels around England dealing with constant cases, often having to wake up in the middle of the night to deal with a farmers cow or a womens little pekinese. wonderful!
Even I you don't care for animals too much you'd be enticed by his journeys.He travels around England dealing with constant cases, often having to wake up in the middle of the night to deal with a farmers cow or a womens little pekinese. wonderful!
I love animals, and I laughed as loud as I cried when reading all four of the books in this series. In fact right now my husband and I are watching the BBC version of this too. I still love the stories. They are sweet, and I'm such a succor for an animal, and I loved the characters as they developed in the books.
I really liked this book as well as all creatures great and small. I bought his complete works. I was dissapointed in the quality of the books themselves. The pages were yelloed and the print was too small for my eyes to focus on even with reading glasses. This was the last one I read because of that.
If you want to get an insight into the world of veterinans, e.g. the medical care required for the treament of animals and some of the deadyly animal diseases during the late 1930's this is the book for you. If you just want stories that revolve around animals then this too is the book for you.
Not a lot to add to all the other reviews that love Herriot's work, except to say that I used to read these books on the train home from work and had to cram my gloves into my mouth for fear of laughing so loudly I would disturb the other passengers. Sweet, funny and totally engaging
this was definitely a entertaining book to read - easy with lots of fun stories about what it's like to be a farm vet. 3 stars because it's not incredibly deep or full of life lessons (although there are some) but still worth the read. it'd be a perfect bathroom book.
Love it! I keep it always near my reading chair and pick it up for some humor therapy every now and then. A chapter here and a chapter there does a heart good. So funny and, hey, I learned about a horses intestine twisting and an overweight dog, among other cases! ;)
Not a fan of large animal myself but reading about his random experiences with large animals made it a little more interesting for me and gave me a little more insight about large animals. Funny at times, but very slow paced. Overall an ok book for me
I read these as a grade schooler, t the same time as my dad. We talked about our favorite of the clients and customers, the animals, the funny people, the younger brother. I went on to read Dickens, but this was time well spent and well shared.
Timeless books. I define the stupidity of government by the fact that when James Herriot was drafted into the army during WWI he was not placed in the calvary to work with the animals and he was a trained vet. Go figure.
This was a book club read--memoirs of a young country vet's life in Yorkshire, England. It was well written, entertaining, and full of the lessons of life--birth, death, suffering, compassion, integrity, and love.
I'd seen the TV show before I read the book, and it was fun matching up what bit of plot went where. The writing style is very conversational and engaging. And of course I cried at quite a few scenes.
I absolutely loved this book. I've owned it for some time now and finally got around to reading it. Highly recommended!! Amazing stories about him being a country vet in the countryside of the UK. Many made mw laugh and cry.just brilliant.
All of the Herriot books made me "almost" want to be a veterinarian. Animals are so much smarter than humans. These books are for anyone who has ever loved a cat, dog, horse, etc. always a good read.
Nov 04, 2010
Gail
added it
James Herriot is a master storyteller. My family would gather in the living room or lean over the car seats to hear my mom read his addicting stories of country veterinary life in the Dales.
Loved these books when I was younger. I think they inspired a life long love of animals. Love the gentleness and goodliness of these books which is hard to find anymore.
beautiful - again another author who talks as if he has also found how magical life is, one definitely in my sphere, I can easily say I will love the next book.
Takes us to a time long ago and a peek into things unknown. Wonderful stories of a young veterinarian as he becomes a wonderful human being full wisdom and care.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
James 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...more
More about James Herriot...
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow...more
Share This Book
2 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
