All Creatures Great and Small

Herriot is practicing veterinary medicine in a time of great change in both the medicines available and government interest in agriculture. Discuss his attitudes towards these changes. What are the reasons he holds those attitudes?

Discuss Siegfried’s role as a mentor in this book. What wisdom does he impart? Does he cause more problems than he solves?

Alcohol plays a role in many of the episodes in this book. What is Herriot’s attitude toward alcohol and its effects?

Describe James’s character. What are his strengths and what are his flaws? How does the choice of vignettes in this book show what kind of person he is? Is he aware of his strengths and failings? Which ones? Which ones does he not notice?

Many of the Yorkshire Dales farmers are portrayed humorously, with amusing comments and dialect. How does Herriot balance this humor with respect for these people and their culture?

Discuss how Herriot uses the series of stories about Tricki Woo and Mrs. Pumphrey to illustrate the differences between small animal veterinary practice and farm practice.

At many points in the book, James is faced with an ethical decision. For example, there is the situation with Soames and the cow who was not killed by lightning. What guides his choices and how would you describe his system of ethics?

Herriot describes James’s original intention of becoming a small-animal veterinarian. Why did he change his mind? What about farm animal veterinary medicine turned out to appeal to him? What about small animal work might have left him unsatisfied?