James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small is an unlikely autobiography. After all, what could possibly be interesting about reading about the exploits of a Yorkshire vet in the 1930s? I didn't approach the task with much expectation but was pleasantly surprised to find a vibrant account of a man cheerfully going through the motions of a daily life that is both demanding and hugely rewarding.
The book begins with Herriot sprawled on the cold floor of a byre in the midst of a difficult calving. As he contemplates how he ended up in this position, you are immediately assured this is going to be both a humorous and warm story about a life well lived. Flashback to Herriot seeking a job. As a newly-minted vet filled with ambition but a depressing employment outlook, he is quick to seize the opportunity of working in the veterinary practice of Dr. Siegfried Farnon, a quirky character who is nonetheless well-established among his farmer clientele scattered about the wild and beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Herriot is initially filled with trepidation - he has all the requisite knowledge for the job, but has limited practical experience. The first time he has to field a phone call from a farmer, he is perplexed. The Yorkshireman has his own vocabulary and Herriot cannot make head or tail of what kind of animal the man is referring to, let alone what's wrong with it. But he is a fast learner and starts to find himself in his element.
Then follows a series of vignettes about the larger-than-life characters he meets on his rounds, the initially doubtful farmers who are certain they know more than the young vet (and are sometimes right), and their gradual acceptance of this man who will do anything for his four-legged patients and passionately loves his profession. He has a great rapport with his boss, Dr. Farnon, who is somewhat scatterbrained but terribly amusing, and his boss's brother, Tristan, who is an unwilling veterinary student, constantly invoking his brother's displeasure. Of course the main focus of the book is on the animals that rely on Herriot's expertise. I didn't realise how close a cow's reproductive anatomy was to a human's, but on reading his various accounts of difficult calvings, I was reminded of my OB-Gyn rotation and could almost picture myself birthing a calf with perfect ease. Herriot complains about being dragged out of his bed at all hours of the night to attend to these animals, but ultimately he enjoys every minute and derives immense satisfaction from a job well done.
Herriot wrote several books about his experiences that follow his long career in this practice. I've ordered the remaining installments from the library and expect to enjoy each one just as much as the first. These books are joyful, funny, and simply a wonderful read, so if you're looking for something to lift your spirits and entertain you, look no further.
The book begins with Herriot sprawled on the cold floor of a byre in the midst of a difficult calving. As he contemplates how he ended up in this position, you are immediately assured this is going to be both a humorous and warm story about a life well lived. Flashback to Herriot seeking a job. As a newly-minted vet filled with ambition but a depressing employment outlook, he is quick to seize the opportunity of working in the veterinary practice of Dr. Siegfried Farnon, a quirky character who is nonetheless well-established among his farmer clientele scattered about the wild and beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Herriot is initially filled with trepidation - he has all the requisite knowledge for the job, but has limited practical experience. The first time he has to field a phone call from a farmer, he is perplexed. The Yorkshireman has his own vocabulary and Herriot cannot make head or tail of what kind of animal the man is referring to, let alone what's wrong with it. But he is a fast learner and starts to find himself in his element.
Then follows a series of vignettes about the larger-than-life characters he meets on his rounds, the initially doubtful farmers who are certain they know more than the young vet (and are sometimes right), and their gradual acceptance of this man who will do anything for his four-legged patients and passionately loves his profession. He has a great rapport with his boss, Dr. Farnon, who is somewhat scatterbrained but terribly amusing, and his boss's brother, Tristan, who is an unwilling veterinary student, constantly invoking his brother's displeasure. Of course the main focus of the book is on the animals that rely on Herriot's expertise. I didn't realise how close a cow's reproductive anatomy was to a human's, but on reading his various accounts of difficult calvings, I was reminded of my OB-Gyn rotation and could almost picture myself birthing a calf with perfect ease. Herriot complains about being dragged out of his bed at all hours of the night to attend to these animals, but ultimately he enjoys every minute and derives immense satisfaction from a job well done.
Herriot wrote several books about his experiences that follow his long career in this practice. I've ordered the remaining installments from the library and expect to enjoy each one just as much as the first. These books are joyful, funny, and simply a wonderful read, so if you're looking for something to lift your spirits and entertain you, look no further.
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