This work is partly a biography of the famous writer of veterinary tales, and partly a literary and cultural study. The author examines Herriot's life and career in the context of the social, cultural and historical fabric of the first half of the 20th century.

"The strength of All Things Herriot is Sternlicht's dissection of the five memoirs beginning with All Creatures Great and Small. [He] provides a comprehensive catalog of the plots and themes along with interesting observations. . . . As we push forwards toward the next millennium, with increasing urbanization and increasing dependence on technology, there will clearly be great interest in a 'romantic' period when technology was imperfect and the parameters of life seemed simpler."—Journal of Popular Culture

Description

All Things Herriot is the first full-length book about this best-selling author, whose work, adapted for television, has swept through the world in one of the most popular and enduring series of all times: All Creatures Great and Small. Sternlicht offers a comprehensive, up-to-the-moment evaluation of the Herriot achievements, and it offers the most detailed biography of the real Herriot, James Alfred Wight, in print to date. He explores how this good-natured veterinarian came into existence and how he developed over the course of the series of books. How and why Herriot made the transition to television is examined as well as the effect the shows had on audiences. This is the story of the “creating” of James Herriot, how he captured the imagination of popular culture. This simple man, with his profound love for all creatures in his peaceable kingdom, has earned for himself a secure and enduring place in the hearts and minds of readers and viewers alike.

About the Author

Sanford Sternlicht is part-time professor of English at Syracuse University.

0 pages, 10 black and white illustrations

September 2022