Perhaps once a decade an unknown man or woman—who happens to be a born story-teller—writes his memoirs, and we have a miracle between covers. And for some reason the locale is almost always rural—a natural setting. We think that in James Herriot—who is a countryside animal doctor—and ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL we have just such an author, setting and miracle.

The book shines with humor, pathos, superb story-telling and, a rarity above all these, what seems a richly justified love of life. Whether on his back in a muck-filled stable with his arm inside a cow, trying to turn a calf into the proper position to be born, or calming a wealthy dowager with an overfed Pekingese, or comforting a lonely old man whose only companion—a dog—had died, James Herriot needed all the bedside manner, stamina, skill, and gift of humanity of the best of family doctors.

He had his problems but his compensations were great. He was always aware of the wild beauty of the country around him; the sunlit fields were his operating table; and his patients (ranging from kittens to horses) and his clients (ranging from the most crotchety Yorkshire plowman to the lovely farmer's daughter who brought romance into his life) all filled him with infinite fascination, affection and joy.

We think his book will fill you with the same things—and a book that does that is a miracle indeed.

From the dust jacket