All creatures great and small / James Herriot.

"Absolutely super, a rarity, magnificently written, insightful, unforgettable . . . If you have ever loved a friend, human or otherwise, this is the book for you"- Houston Chronicle

This is a charming, delightful and often very funny book that some KTers will already know, and those who do not have a great treat to look forward to. I have read it several times, and regularly delve into the whole series to experience the heartwarming world depicted by the writer. The book is narrated by James Herriot, who in 1937 took a job as an assistant to veterinarian Siegfried Farnon in the Yorkshire Dales region of England. He encountered many colorful characters and situations in his work with large animals of the surrounding agricultural area and some small animal work. Although the many advances in veterinary medicine of today were absent at the time, of course, the dedication shown by Herriot and his colleagues to the well-being of animals under their care is timeless.

I considered summarizing some of the incidents from the book for this review, but the lead-up, the description of the characters and the context are so important to properly appreciate the episodes that summaries would cheat readers of the magic of the stories. The book really needs to be read in its entirety. As usual, I prefer the printed word to dramatizations so I have not seen the television series that was made from the books.

From Amazon - "Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and tragic animal patients. For over thirty years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot's marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye."