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  • All Things Bright and Beautiful

  • The Classic Memoirs of a Yorkshire Country Vet
  • By: James Herriot
  • Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
  • Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (555 ratings)
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All Things Bright and Beautiful

By: James Herriot
Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
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Summary

The second collection of memoirs from the author who inspired the BBC and Channel 5 series All Creatures Great and Small.

Now settled into the sleepy Yorkshire village of Darrowby, and married to Helen the farmer’s daughter, James Herriot thinks he’s finally got himself sorted. But life as a vet in the 1930s was never going to be easy. Quite aside from his unpredictable colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, he must contend with new fangled medical techniques, delivering calves after far too much home-made wine, and a grudge holding dog called Magnus who never forgets. And then, with Britain on the verge of war, James faces a decision that could separate him from Darrowby – and Helen – for ever....

Since they were first published, James Herriot’s memoirs have sold millions of copies and entranced generations of animal lovers. Charming, funny and touching, All Things Bright and Beautiful is a heart-warming story of determination, love and companionship from one of Britain’s best-loved authors.

This omnibus edition comprises the majority of chapters from Let Sleeping Vets Lie and Vets in Harness.

©1973 James Herriot (P)2016 Macmillan Digital Audio

Critic reviews

"I grew up reading James Herriot's books and I'm delighted that thirty years on, they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out loud funny as they were then." (Kate Humble)

"Herriot's enchanting tales of life in the Dales are deservedly classics. Full of extraordinary characters, animal and human, the books never fail to delight." (Amanda Owen, bestselling author of The Yorkshire Shepherdess)

What listeners say about All Things Bright and Beautiful

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • MD
  • 10-12-17

at last

This was the only omnibus audio book missing from the herriot collection on audible. It is superb and a must for any fan. You also get to meet Granville Bennett for the first time. Very enjoyable

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

‘perfect stories, gifted story-telling

As a child I’d read & watched & really loved all things JamesHerriot. Now Im grownup, Im enjoying these tales every bit as much; gorgeous gentle humour.
No-one but Christopher Timothy should be allowed any place near the narration - he *is* Herriot, superb!
A beautiful book for all ages.

PS- somebody (prev review ^) on here moans about ‘music’ spoiling the reading..? For heaven’s sake - theres a couple of bars of cheery tunes here & there; no impact, no issue.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good book spoiled by music

Love these books, but miss the familiar music, and the edits were somewhat clunky and the music chosen disappointing.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pity about the music!

Wonderful wonderful stories told beautifully.

What a shame about the awful editing and the truly terrible music randomly played needlessly between non breaking chapters!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb storytelling

Prefect narration and wonderful colourful stories told with warm and good humour.
I actually quite liked the occasional light music that sometimes played between storylines.
The chapter spacing is a bit off (Amazon), but that won't stop you enjoying this book.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

REALLY annoying incidental music

Chris timothy does his best but the incidental music drowns out his narrative at times, is unnecessarily loud, and a complete annoyance. Wish I'd waited to see if the new 'James Herriot' narrated book 2 as he has book 1, and very well.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Yorkshire's finest

A well observed look back at how Yorkshire and veterinary practice was before the war.🇬🇧
Lots of lovely asides and incidents make the time pass pleasantly. 👍🤗

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Christopher Timothy was maybe the obvious choice but also the best choice

Really enjoyed Christopher Timothy’s reading, he was obviously very invested in this and it was as if the author himself was reflecting. So much life and warmth in Herriot’s writing.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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loved it

have read it years ago along with the other James Herriot books, but really enjoyed listening to it again.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sort it out Audible

Yet another book where the chapter numbers bear no correlation to the audio. There are 47 chapters, Audible lists 101! Add to that the ridiculously loud blasts of music mid chapter, that drown out the audio, and the long pauses mid chapter elsewhere and this becomes a very frustrating listen. Leave the narration alone Audible.

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1 person found this helpful