He emulates dozens of Yorkshire voices and dialects in an utterly authentic and enjoyable way - enjoyable unless the people are cranky, that is. James pauses the reminiscence to kick-back into his usual real-time narration mode which takes us away from the warm-fuzzies of memory and puts the tension back in the now.

Now here's a third delightful volume of memoirs rich with Herriot's own brand of humor, insight, and wisdom. Chapters begin with a paragraph or two (sometimes only a sentence or two) about military life and move on to vet stories almost by random word association.The family wrote a thank you note that began with a greeting to the vet with a bandage on his finger. All Things Wise and Wonderful is the third James Herriot omnibus and contains Vets Might Fly and Vet in a Spin. With no real knowledge of Herriot outside of his professional accomplishments, I read his first book casually; cute stories about a budding British veterinarian and his furry, lovable patients in 1930’s farmland. Just enough to explain what he is doing at the time and how the activity triggers memories of the work in his animal practice. Herriot to me remains a superhero of sorts, who, in visiting home after home like some veterinary Santa, taught me how simple, heartwarming prose about people and their animals could rise above the commonplace, and become art.

Foot and Mouth is confirmed and there are a few anxious weeks while James waits to see if any other farmers get it.He invites Lydia over but when James comes home he hurriedly kicks her out thinking James is Siegfried and in the process he loses Hammish.

Herriot’s stories rely on numerous autobiographical elements taken from his life in northern England’s Yorkshire County, and they depict a simple, rustic world deeply in touch with the cycles of nature.

The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph.