Gervase Phinn

(7/10) I was very pleasantly surprised by this, I went into it wondering why on Earth anyone would write a book about being a school inspector. As it happens the job is far more involved than I thought and it was written so well I couldn't help but enjoy it.

It had me in absolute stitches when he was explaining the various pronunciations of his name he had come across and was a book full of great humour and warmth. I would definitely read the other books in this series.

Absolutely charming book, which I found in a charity shop in Yorkshire. I had no idea that a book about a school inspector could be so interesting or insightful. The style reminded me of Bill Bryson.

Gervase Phinn never fails to make me smile and laugh and nod my head knowingly. I have read all his books. I have loved all his books. Teacher, School Inspector, Public Speaker, Author, Poet and Patron of many charities for children, turns the story on himself in this book and it's told with all the humour and honesty of his tales about the straight talking Yorkshire schoolchildren of his previous books. Mr. Phinn is obviously one of those brilliant people who were BORN to teach, born to show more enlighten and encourage, born to tell stories, to write stories and to make people laugh and feel good about themselves. I hope the next book isn't too far away. show less

Gervase Phinn, who narrates this book, is appointed School Inspector for English in the Yorkshire Dales. He recounts his initial interviews and settling-in period, and several incidents as he travels around visiting local schools.

Well-written with a humorous eye for detail, and I found each chapter enjoyable. However it felt somehow like collected short stories rather than a book in its own right - not necessarily a problem, but it made it rather less enjoyable than the James Herriot books show more with which it's been compared. show less