From Library Journal Lord， former literary editor and books columnist of the Sunday Express in the United Kingdom， offers a warm， candid portrait of one of the most beloved authors in recent times. James Herriot， born Alf Wight (1916-95)， was able to attend veterinary college despite a poor childhood in Scotland. In 1940， he joined a practice in Yorkshire where， though underpaid， he remained for his entire career. After years of receiving rejections from publishers， the unassuming veterinarian finally had a book published in 1970?the autobiographical If Only They Could Talk (Book 1 of All Creatures Great and Small in the United States) under the name James Herriot. Herriot's gentle books on the life of a country vet were huge best sellers， largely because of Lord's early review， and later became films and a popular TV series. Lord's frequent musings on Herriot's embellishing details of his life for print weaken an otherwise strong narrative?after all， Lord shows us that Herriot was modest and self-effacing in the extreme. An entertaining and poignant remembrance; highly recommended.?Diane G. Premo， Rochester P.L.， N.Y.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information， Inc. The New York Times Book Review， Milton Garrison This is very much a British book， and some references may be obscure. It's a good story， though， and Wight is good company. See all Editorial Reviews