All Things Wise and Wonderful

Framed by his brief time in the Royal Air Force, veterinarian James Herriot shares more stories of his life and work. He treated farm animals for cranky farmers and small pets for little kids, while living with his patient wife, eccentric boss, and suave coworker.

Genuinely could not tell you a single story that is in this collection I just finished. They go in one ear very smoothly and out the other just as easily. They could be the exact same stories from the previous book and I wouldn’t know the difference. They’re very enjoyable to listen to in the moment, but don’t stick around or mean much.

I have read this so many times and it never gets old. So many parts make me laugh out loud with hilarious situations and often with their acute observations of Yorkshire farmers. I also spend a fair amount of time wiping away tears of emotion. I grew up in the Yorkshire Dales but now live in Canada. Because of social distancing, I wonder when my next trip will be.

"There's more to be learned up a cow's arse than in many an encyclopedia" - Siegfried Farnon. This installment sees our James acting almost as a zoological Sherlock Holmes, even tangling with a corrupt dog track operation!

Although ALL THINGS WISE AND WONDERFUL has been out since the 1970s and although this book is the third in a series, it is the first of James Harriot‘s books that I’ve read. I loved it and wonder what took me so long.

Most of us know of Harriot's books even if we haven’t read them. They’re classics. He was a country veterinarian in England, and his books are stories of, mostly, his work with the various animals. Plus he also throws in some people stories here and there. In ALL THINGS WISE AND WONDERFUL, while he is training to be a pilot in the Royal Air Force, he remembers his time as a veterinarian during the 1930s.

While many readers like myself are easily bored by books of stories, this one is absorbing. Harriot‘s books were show more best sellers, and people all over the world love him. Now I do, too. I only wish he were still alive so I could tell him. show less

3.5 stars

In this book, veterinarian James Herriot is training for the RAF (Royal Air Force) during WWII. So, this one includes stories of that training, alongside stories of treating animals (pets and farm animals) and the lives of some of the humans to whom those animals belonged.

I listened to the audio, and there were times my mind wandered, probably more often during the RAF training anecdotes (though not all of them). The narrator did a very good job with voices and accents. I’m rating it good, but am debating if I should continue on. It looks like there are only two books left, so I likely will.

The third book by Mr. Herriot is about his years during World War II. He interspersed the stories of his time in the RAF with flashbacks to stories of being a vet. He spent one year before being discharged for medical reasons, but did get the opportunity to learn to fly before. He was the second in his group to solo, so he must have been pretty good at it. He was very sorrowful that his discharge ended his flying career, but was glad to get back to his practice and his son that was born while he was away. Some of the stories, including when he went AWOL to visit his wife without getting caught, are side splittingly funny.

Herriot's gift for writing is, as always, present and delightful. He has a wonderful ability to draw the reader in show more and help them feel as if they are standing just behind, peering over his shoulder. The characters and animals he meet are breathed to life in some of the easiest to read descriptions. They are quickly old friends of mine, too, as I wish I could actually be there and meet them myself. And, as always, I am left with a desire to go wander the Yorkshire Dales. What a masterful writer he is. show less

While this does have the slight narrative strain of Herriot's brief time in the RAF at the outbreak of WWII, it is mostly just a substructure for more lovely stories of being a Yorkshire vet. For some reason, I do not have this book so I got a library copy but will have to rectify that hole in my personal collection.