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All Creatures Great and Small

The Classic Memoirs of a Yorkshire Country Vet

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All Creatures Great and Small

By: James Herriot
Narrated by: Nicholas Ralph
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About this listen

This audio edition is read by Nicholas Ralph, known for his role as James Herriot in the All Creatures Great and Small TV series.

** Now a major TV series on Channel 5 **

Since they were first published, James Herriot’s memoirs have sold millions of copies and entranced generations of animal lovers. Charming, funny and touching, All Creatures Great and Small is a heart-warming story of determination, love and companionship from one of Britain’s best-loved authors.

Fresh out of Glasgow Veterinary College, to the young James Herriot 1930s Yorkshire seems to offer an idyllic pocket of rural life in a rapidly changing world. But from his erratic new colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, to incomprehensible farmers, herds of semi-feral cattle, a pig called Nugent and an overweight Pekingese called Tricki Woo, James finds he is on a learning curve as steep as the hills around him. And when he meets Helen, the beautiful daughter of a local farmer, all the training and experience in the world can’t help him . . .

'Nicholas Ralph’s narration is grand...A talented mimic, the star of the newer production can hold the stage alone, taking both voices in an argument. Ralph expresses adoration of domesticated animals and the wild Scots who own them. Ralph channels the Herriot magic, wrapping these tough eccentrics in a light that cheers and ennobles us all.' - AudioFile

'Herriot's enchanting tales of life in the Dales are deservedly classics. Full of extraordinary characters, animal and human, the books never fail to delight' – Amanda Owen, bestselling author of The Yorkshire Shepherdess

 Animals Biological Sciences Genre Fiction Medical Outdoors & Nature Professionals & Academics Science Small Town & Rural Memoir Feel-Good Funny Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Bulls with sunstroke, pigs on the run and a cake-eating Peke with a betting habit . . . 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 (Kate Humble)
The attraction of Herriot's ever popular memoirs of a country vet . . . is their alternating highs and lows, humour and pathos, and gripping anecdotes about delivering lambs, grumpy farmers, hypochondriac pet-owners, stroppy cows and blunt Yorkshire characters. And, of course, there's a powerful nostalgia element in these stories about our green and pleasant land in the day before the ravages of ribbon development
Herriot's enchanting tales of life in the Dales are deservedly classics. Full of extraordinary characters, animal and human, the books never fail to delight (Amanda Owen, bestselling author of The Yorkshire Shepherdess)
On original release in the 1970s, James Herriot's insights into the life of a working vet were so popular and enchanting to readers that the area of the Yorkshire Dales in which he practised became known as 'James Herriot country'
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I'm very disappointed as I discovered some chapters missing: for example the chapter about the party from which James and Helen leave together, or the two chapters about Darrowby show - which is unfair as they are the ones used in the new series - very changed but you can recognise them. There are quite a few other chapters missing that I can find in my books I bought a long time ago.
But of course the stories are beautiful anyway and also beautifully read by Mr Ralph, a real pleasure to listen to.

Wonderful listen but...

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I first read these books almost 30 years ago and when I decided to revisit on Audible I thought long and hard which version to buy - this one or the 'original" Christopher Timothy narrated one. I loved Christopher in the original BBC series, but after watching a few episodes of the new Channel 5 series I decided that Nicholas Ralph's voice was perhaps more authentic as Alf Wight, the real Herriot, was a Scot.

This was a delightful listen, just as I knew it would be. A light hearted glimpse into the life of a country vet in the 1930, before all the modern equipment and miracle drugs. James Herriot's love of animals shines through every word. There is absolutely nothing to dislike about the book, and it will always be one of my favourites.

Nicholas Ralph did a wonderful job with the narration. I loved his Scottish accent but his different Yorkshire accents were perfect too.

Just wonderful!

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I loved the fact that that ‘James’ did the narration as I’d seen the TV series it made it so real

Brilliantly written

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The memoirs of James Herriot are loved the world over and deservedly so. At times humorous, then poignant, you’ll find yourself wiping a tear from your eyes as the stories unfold. They have a real feel good factor about them. They also offer some meaningful life lessons, such as the account about James’ fear of performing a procedure on a terrifying horse. Herriot also paints a beautiful picture of the Dales, a place he clearly loved until his dying day. Nicholas Ralph, a Scot himself, does a fine job as narrator. His ability to make the different characters come to life with their unique accents makes listening a pleasure. He might only just be launching his career as an actor, but it seems clear to me that we’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the future. It’s my sincere hope that he will be used to narrate James Herriot’s other books in the series. (Update: I see that he narrates the next book, too. 😁👍🏻) If you like animals and a good yarn, then you’ll love this trip down memory lane. The Herriot stories have a universal appeal and will be enjoyed by readers/listeners both young and old.

A classic memoir captivatingly read.

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I first read this book way back when it was first published and have always loved everything by this author. Am thoroughly enjoying listening to Nicholas Ralph's enchanting Scottish accent narrating it. So much so that I am not going to wait for my credit day, but will purchase the sequel the moment I have finished my listen to this, so I can continue the story. The stories wear very well, even though they are totally familiar to me through the various television series of them. The writing is good and the stories entertainingly told. Highly recommend this.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Excellent narrator.

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