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- All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot!
Now here's a third delightful volume of memoirs rich with Herriot's own brand of humor, insight, and wisdom. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing character--animal and human alike--Herriot enthralls with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn.
Millions of readers have delighted in the wonderful storytelling and everyday miracles of James Herriot in the over thirty years since his delightful animal stories were first introduced to the world. Paperback , pages. Published November 1st by St. Martin's Griffin first published November 1st All Creatures Great and Small To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
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To ask other readers questions about All Things Wise and Wonderful , please sign up. Do I have to read these James Herriot books in order? MrsER Reading them in order gives you a better idea of how Herriot's life progressed. I like to read things in order, but that is just me.
I have a hard …more Reading them in order gives you a better idea of how Herriot's life progressed. I have a hard time picking a favorite: See 2 questions about All Things Wise and Wonderful…. Lists with This Book. Jun 27, Jason Koivu rated it liked it Shelves: Shit gets real this time around, all too real. I was not thrilled with the start of All Things Wise and Wonderful , because from the get-go we learn that James Herriot is going to be writing about his wartime experiences.
Frankly, I wanted more of the same - warm and fuzzy stories with a bit of low-tension drama about life as a country vet in the north of England as dished out in the first two books of this series. The vet stories are told as flashbacks, which takes some of the steam out of them, while the RAF stories never really get off the ground. Just the same, if you've read and enjoyed Herriot's work up to this point, don't let my complainy-pants squawking deter you from diving headlong into All Things Wise and Wonderful.
You'll find plenty of enjoyment in the tales Herriot doles out for this volume. Warning though, the overall tone is more somber in this book compared with the first two. I guess that can't be helped, what with WWII being a focal point. But I must say I was blindsided by the story that ended view spoiler [in suicide hide spoiler ].
That was a slap in the face after a lovely day out on the Dales! View all 27 comments. Now personally, that WWII is always present but not really over-used or even featured that much as a flesh and blood scenario at all and obviously seen and approached as secondary compared to the description and depiction of James Herriot's personal pilot training stories and of course the animal cases featured, the cows, dogs, cats etc. With regard to the veterinarian episodes presented in All Things Wise and Wonderful , while I have personally found them as wonderful, as entertaining and as evocative as the first two James Herriot omnibuses and consider the author's memoirs comfort reading pure , I do leave a bit of a potential caveat that there indeed are some rather heavy-duty and sad scenarios portrayed such as the suicide of a dog owner who cannot handle that his faithful canine companion has had to be euthanised.
Therefore, if All Things Wise and Wonderful is read by children and older children above the age of ten or eleven do indeed often read James Herriot this and a few other similarly problematic storylines might well need to be discussed, as there could be a few uncomfortable questions that arise. And furthermore, finally, I also am aware of the fact that certain readers have in the past somewhat chafed at James Herriot's humourous and in no way all that ashamed or contrite depictions of going repeatedly AWOL from his RAF training to visit his pregnant wife something that I for one both much understand and even accept if not rather condone, but I do know and appreciate that this could rub some individuals very much the wrong way.
May 04, Sarah rated it really liked it Shelves: I recently read an online article about James Herriot aka Alf Wight in which I learned of his lifelong battle with severe depression. What could be more pleasant and lighthearted, right? It seems that these animals were not only his professional passion, but a major source of solace for a frequently troubled soul. As a social worker by profession, and an individual who struggles with depression myself, I can attest to the healing power of our four-legged companions.
The very animals that likely added immense purpose and color to his otherwise troublesome and difficult world. Still cute and heartwarming, but also deeply profound. View all 6 comments. I love the Herriot books and have worn out several copies of them. I recommend that you try The only draw back is it can put a longing in your heart that may never quite be fully met. An excellent continuance of Herriot's life as a Yorkshire vet. His stories are warm and wonderful and some are very sad. If the story of the town mischief maker and his dog didn't put a lump in your throat you have to be made of stone.
I would have given this 4. In the course of my successive re-reads of James Herriot's books as a child, I would routinely skip this one, which I thought of as "the sad one. It is no heroic, chest-thumping saga. He talks about homesickness, about missing his wife and worrying about the birth of their first child, and about being lonely and scared.
It's not as happy or bubbly as some of his other books, but, now th In the course of my successive re-reads of James Herriot's books as a child, I would routinely skip this one, which I thought of as "the sad one.
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It's not as happy or bubbly as some of his other books, but, now that I've reread it as a card-carrying adult, I now realize it may be the most touching of all the books. Herriot doesn't worry too much about strict chronology, and he doesn't try to hide the fact that most of the time his RAF life serves only as a backdrop to his memoirs, stitched in with hasty segues. Some of the anecdotes told in this book are the most affecting of all of his stories. There are many tearjerkers: In this book lurk Blossom, the cow who came home; Oscar the cat-about-town; Debbie the Christmas cat; and Jingo and Skipper, best friends.
It's a wonderful, stirring book, and shouldn't be missed.
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Even if it is "sad. I just adore these books. I can't help it. Herriot may not be the most polished author but his books have a sense of warmth around them and I feel like I know Helen, Tristan, Siegfried and James. I love that they are real people and wish I could go and visit them, they just seem so lovely. Tristan's antics in this book are hysterical and James' reaction to becoming a new father priceless. I'm going to wait to read the fourth for a little because I'm sad it's the last one This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Apr 03, Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing. I bought this author's books for my daughter when she was young as she liked his stories. I enjoyed them as much as she did. My other books in this series are much-thumbed editions, obviously read and reread until the color is rubbed off the spine-edges.
This volume, though it's also used, is in better condition. It rather makes me wish Herriot had stuck to his determination not to discuss his war experiences.
He clearly hated them so much that it discolored his memories, and it's not surprising that he keeps slipping away into reminiscence. If he had to discuss those years at all, I'd have preferred it if he'd dug out My other books in this series are much-thumbed editions, obviously read and reread until the color is rubbed off the spine-edges. If he had to discuss those years at all, I'd have preferred it if he'd dug out his letters from Tristan, who did service AS a vet, and probably had some fascinating stories to tell. Only once in this whole volume does Herriot actually get to work as a vet in the present tense--after he's grounded he's sent out as a farm laborer, and happens to be by to help with a difficult calving.
At the end of the previous volume, Herriot is warned by a native Yorkshireman that if he goes to the big city he'll be forced back into taking "big steps and little 'uns". Herriot, originally a big city man, takes the warning seriously, but doesn't really realize how countrified he's become until he actually finds himself in London, taking those big steps and little 'uns in a cold, acidic fog. Any man who dedicates a book as this one is to his dogs must have found it a great wrench to have to leave his dog behind when he departed to his training.
The dog must have resented it even more than his very pregnant wife, because she would understand, though reluctantly. The dog would just have felt unaccounably abandoned.
There are a few redeeming qualities from the abusive treatment Herriot and his companions are meted out. Both places he stays as a recruit do at least have plentiful hot water. And when Herriot gets sent to Scarborborough, he finds himself put up in one of the old grand hotels it's actually called the Grand in the book, but I don't know if that was its real name , in an area near his home and with a much more congenial climate than the London he describes.
But the constant anonymous abuse he describes too often drives him to retreat into reminiscences. I don't suppose he was anymore convinced by sadistic people telling him he'd thank them for the ordeals they put him through than I've ever been. He makes an attempt to be gracious about it, but I'm not convinced. I have never in my life thanked anybody afterward for stoving in my body and mind, and I'd think the very concept risible if it weren't so destructive. Still, there are redeeming qualities, even in the present tense.
The description of pilot training is one of the better descriptions I've heard, and I've heard a few, including some from relatives. It rather makes me wonder if Herriot didn't take up flying as a hobby, though he never mentions it. The description of Herriot's experience of couvade sympathy pregnancy, which he experienced with both his children , his description of his shock at seeing the newborn Jimmy farm animal babies are normally more developed at birth And of course the nostalgic stories of events before the war especially the flatulent dog are as fun as his other books.
I think some of the stories were issued as stand-alone books--I'll try looking for them and adding them. It's a pity the good stories are too often reduced to compensatory souvenirs for a perennially homesick man. When I get to this volume in reading through the series, I'm tempted to hold my breath and rush through.
But that would be a shame, and fortunately there's enough good stuff to slow down and savor. Likely this volume will remain unthumbed, however. There's just too much gristle and not enough meat. Minor trivia note for those who are coordinating the books with the tv show: If I hadn't seen it in the credits, I wouldn't have known it--he's unrecognizable. Note on the titles: View all 5 comments. Oct 19, Cappy rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Harriot is the quinetessential author who captures the essence of Yorkshire countryside through his delightful depictions of the people, landscape, and of course the animals.
A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys the voice of a story teller and doesn't Harriot is the quinetessential author who captures the essence of Yorkshire countryside through his delightful depictions of the people, landscape, and of course the animals. A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys the voice of a story teller and doesn't mind getting wrapped up in a variey of stories that leap frog from one chapter to the next. Nov 09, Natalie rated it it was amazing Shelves: The dialogue and new characters added to the story.
They lived there until , at which point they moved back to Kirkgate, staying until Later, he moved with his wife to a house on Topcliffe Road, Thirsk, opposite the secondary school. The original practice is now a museum, " The World of James Herriot ". The Topcliffe Road house is in private ownership and not open to the public. He later moved with his family to the village of Thirlby , about four miles from Thirsk, where he resided until his death.
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 at the age of 50 , he began writing. After several rejected stories on other subjects like football, he turned to what he knew best. His first approach brought a phone call from Anthea Joseph who was deputy chair of a publishing house.
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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 a huge success, spawning numerous sequels, movies and a successful television adaptation. Wight was diagnosed with prostate cancer in , [2] and underwent treatment in the Lambert Memorial Hospital in Thirsk.
He died on 23 February , aged 78, at home in Thirlby. The ceremony was carried out jointly by Alf Wight's daughter Rosie and son Jim.
Timothy played Herriot in the television series. In his books, Wight calls the town in which Herriot lives and works Darrowby , a composite of Thirsk , Richmond , Leyburn and Middleham. Contrary to popular belief, Wight's books are only partially autobiographical, with many of the stories being only loosely based on real events or people. Wight's son, Jim, states that a lot of the stories, although set in the s, s or s in the books, were actually inspired by cases that Wight attended in the s and s.
From a historical standpoint, the stories help document a transitional period in the veterinary industry; agriculture was moving from the traditional use of beasts of burden in Britain, primarily the draught horse to reliance upon the mechanical tractor and medical science was just on the cusp of discovering antibiotics and other drugs that eliminated many of the ancient remedies still in use. These and other sociological factors, like increased affluence, prompted a large-scale shift in veterinary practice over the course of the 20th century; at its start, virtually all of a vet's time was spent working with large animals: By the year , the majority of vets practised mostly on dogs, cats and other pets belonging to a population having a larger disposable income — people who could afford, and had the leisure time, to keep animals merely for pleasure.
Wight as Herriot occasionally steps out of his narrative to comment, with the benefit of hindsight , on the primitive state of veterinary medicine at the time of the story he is relating; for example, he describes his first hysterectomy on a cat and his first almost disastrous Caesarean section on a cow. The Herriot books are described often as "animal stories" Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories".
Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible, role in many of Wight's tales: Furthermore, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals and their close inter-relationship which give his writing much of its flavour. 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 elements of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, and, sometimes, triumph. The books have been adapted for film and television, including a film titled All Creatures Great and Small , sequelled by It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet , and a long-running BBC television programme of the same title. Herriot's fame has generated a thriving tourist economy in Thirsk. Local businesses include the " World of James Herriot " museum located at 23 Kirkgate, the original practice surgery and a pub at one time called the "Darrowby Inn", which was later renamed.
Many of the original contents of his surgery can be found at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming in Murton, York. Parts of the BBC TV series set, including the living room and the dispensary see picture, right , are on display at the James Herriot museum in Thirsk , which is open to the public.
The real-life veterinary practice still exists, but has moved to other premises.