If Only They Could Talk: The Classic Memoir of a 1930s Vet

Product Information

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. 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. 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 grew up reading James Herriot's book and I'm delighted that thirty years on they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then. 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.

In the words of James Herriot while describing his beloved countryside - I felt like I could breathe. It was not the first edition: that was in hardback in 1970, but this was the first paperback, in 1973. James Herriot takes you right into the lives and hearts of the people he knew and makes you feel as if you know them too. One of the most interesting segments is Tricki Woo, a pampered Pekinese dog belonging to a rich old lady. I last read Herriot years and years ago so rereading his books was a nice reminder of those books and of course the TV series on SABC and the BBC.James Herriot, a pseudonym for James Alfred Wight, grew up in Glasgow and qualified as a veterinary surgeon at Glasgow Veterinary College. In this book at least, there's really nothing heavy, it's all just entertaining, fun, and light, but very well written. He portrays them as hardworking, down-to-earth, and deeply connected to the land and the animals they care for.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Alf Wight, seorang dokter hewan dari Yorkshire, menovelisasi hidupnya dan menggunakan nama samaran James Herriot. 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. His compassion, love, and sense of humor are obvious in his writings, both towards his patients as well as their owners.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. 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. Unfortunately the textbooks never told you about the long hours, sleepless nights, freezing cold or the scorching heat. 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. 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".

In a world where books and television seemed to be filled with gloom, his stories can lift the spirits and minds of all readers, young and old.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.