All creatures great and small – a ‘make you feel better’ book of animal stories.
‘ All creatures great and and small ‘ by James Herriot is a book of animal stories written by a vet practicing in the Yorkshire countryside.
James Herriot is a young vet who has just graduated from college in Glasgow and starts his practice in rural Yorkshire. Enthusiastic about being able to respond to his calling, he quickly immerses himself into animal care in the village. The young doctor soon realizes the difference between theory taught in college and the ground realities of being a practicing vet.
This book recounts his various visits with heartening anecdotes of the animals and their owners. Each chapter is a beautiful story of his encounters both poignant and entertaining. From visiting farm animals on a freezing winter day to checking up on a highly pampered pet dog, James Herriot surely invokes the passion for love of animals and their care.
Even a visit to Clancy’s terrifying wolfhound further amplifies his sheer love for animals. Some stories are heart wrenching like of a dog who is critically ill but also happens to be the sole companion of the owner.
There is a touching human aspect that is beautifully interwoven into his stories like his disastrous courtship with his soon to wife or about the farmers who barely had money to pay for his fees and medicines. The inclusion of a colorful character called Siegfried Farnon adds to this drama of life in the lush green country side of Yorshire.
Herriot’s story telling keeps you engaged and enthralled, invoking a warm spirit of true bonding and love, reflecting humanity and one’s love for nature.
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