THE COMPLETE JAMES HERRIOT Box Set 1-8

How great a story teller is James Herriot. I highly recommend his books, best to buy the collection as a couple of the books are combined into one book. Should be read in order as well. See year published as the books are not in order in the box. For anyone who loves animals, humorous and at times will bring tears. Throughly enjoyable reads. The PBS rendition of the stories is also wonderful. Books are always best though! I’m keeping these as I may want to read them all again in time.

I’ve been reading a lot of indigenous writers recently. All have been well written, historically accurate even tho technically fiction. But between reading those and the political climate today, I needed a lighter break. The Herriot books are perfect. Well written, they illustrate not only his love for animals and their quirks, but also for their humans and their quirks. I’ll even read some parts to my dog, especially the stupid human parts. They’re an excellent escape, and can make you smile with some guffaws thrown in.

Great reading

Well written stories by James Herriot. Interesting stories and character interactions.

For those who are worried that this is not the All Creatures Great and Small books they are expecting, fear not. This is the British published set. As I just learned from reading the biography of James Herriot written by his son, James Wight, Herriot's books were combined for the American market. What we know as _All Creatures Great and Small_ is Herriot's first two books printed together as one volume. His third and fourth books were printed together as _All Things Bright and Beautiful_, and his fifth and sixth books became _All Things Wise and Wonderful_ in America. The only difference between the versions is that the last chapter or two of _All Creatures Great and Small_, in which Herriot marries Helen, were added just for the American version; they are not in the British copy of _It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet_. Granted, these are wonderful chapters, but the rest of the stories in all these books are exactly the same as those in the books we are familiar with on this side of the pond. _The Lord God Made Them All_ and _Every Living Thing_ are unchanged; he wrote those as is for the British publications. One note: My set came with the books in the box not in the correct chronological order. I have no idea why they would be packed like that, but look at the publication dates to order them correctly, as they certainly should be read in proper order to get the full satisfaction of the underlying storylines that run throughout the series. Second note: If you love Herriot's writing, I highly recommend James Wight's biography of his father, _The Real James Herriot_. I just finished that and it is a well-written, fascinating look into Herriot's real life and work. Much of it will surprise you. (And from it I figured out why people here were complaining that this is not the set they were expecting!)

So good! I love James Harriot. His weighting is so down to earth. He mixes funny with heartbreaking.

These are great books, however, if you have read all the original books you really don't need to buy these as they are just stories from the original books. I love James Herriot. He is a wonderful author.

I add this review just as information for those who grew up in America with the American editions, and are expecting the American titles. This boxed set is the complete set of James Herriot's books, as written and published in England. The American editions, with the well-known titles from the hymn, are compilations of the English books. All of the wonderful source material that you remember and want _is here_! In fact, there are a dozen or more chapters that were left out of the American editions which are also here. The titles are different, some of the stories are ordered differently, but there's nothing that you want that is not present in this box set. The American book "All Creatures Great and Small," for example, consists of the 31 chapters of "If Only They Could Talk," the 33 chapters of "It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet," and three chapters from "Let Sleeping Vets Lie." If you're upset that "All Creatures Great and Small" is not in this set, you need to understand that all of the material from "All Creatures Great and Small" is in this set. As people who have read them know, the books are wonderful - I add my voice to the chorus of praise, and have nothing beyond that to add.