All Things Bright and Beautiful: The Warm and Joyful Memoirs of the World's Most Beloved Animal Doctor

All Things Bright and Beautiful is the second title in James Herriot’s autobiographical All Creatures Great and Small series. While it is largely a work of nonfiction, Herriot has fictionalized aspects of his story. All Things Bright and Beautiful continues to trace Herriot’s experiences of living in the Yorkshire Dales and working as a rural veterinary surgeon. He writes in the first person and incorporates description, humor, and reflection into his accounts. Originally published in 1974, the fictionalized memoir explores themes like The Bond Between Humans and Animals, Personal and Professional Growth, and The Power and Beauty of Nature.

This guide refers to the 2014 St. Martin’s Griffin paperback edition of the text.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of animal cruelty, substance use, illness, and death.

Summary

All Things Bright and Beautiful picks up where James “Jim” Herriot’s previous title All Creatures Great and Small leaves off. Jim has just gotten married to Helen and the two have moved into the empty rooms above the veterinary surgery in Skeldale House. Although the living space is modest, Jim is thankful that his boss Siegfried Farnon has let them stay there for free. He’s also thrilled that he gets to spend his life with Helen. One night, he is awoken from sleep by a phone call from a local farmer who needs help with his sick ewe. Jim accepts the job and heads out into the cold to help the farmer and his sheep. The experience is frustrating, as the client is drunk and insists on singing loudly while Jim works. However, Jim’s frustration dissipates when he successfully saves the ewe. He’s even more happy when he returns home and climbs back into bed with Helen. He basks in her warmth and comfort and muses on how lucky he is.

Jim spends his days working at the Skeldale House surgery or taking calls out in the field. Since moving to the Yorkshire Dales and settling into Darrowby, he has built positive relationships with Siegfried and his brother Tristan Farnon. He has also earned the trust of the local farmers, who didn’t initially respect him. He pays visits to farmers with sick cows and horses, and farmers with cows or ewes giving birth. Sometimes, Jim feels overwhelmed by the challenges of his job. It is freezing cold in the Dales during the winters and he often has to work at odd hours and in poor conditions. Furthermore, some of the farmers have strong opinions about how he should do his job. At other times still, Jim cannot make sense of mysterious cases, or he struggles to diagnose animals who simply won’t recover. However, all of these challenges teach Jim about himself, about nature, and about his profession. He tries to stay positive and also tries to remember to ask for help.

One day, Jim gets a call from a Mrs. Barker about her sick dog Dinah. Jim diagnoses the dog easily, but he immediately recognizes that Dinah needs a surgery he doesn’t have the skill to perform. He remembers hearing about a small animal veterinary surgeon in the city of Harrington named Granville Bennett, and he gives him a call. Granville is known for his marked skill and his jovial spirit. He excitedly accepts the job, and Jim drives Dinah into the city. During the operation, Jim marvels at Granville’s acuity and deftness. He also realizes that he used to want to do this sort of work; in reflection, he’s glad that he became a rural veterinarian instead. After Granville finishes Dinah’s operation, he invites Jim to join him at the club for drinks while they wait for Dinah to rest and recover. Jim accepts. The two enjoy themselves, and Jim basks in Granville’s company. However, by the time they return to Granville’s home, Jim is intoxicated and feels ill. He feels even more sick when Granville serves him an array of rich foods. Rendered nauseous and inarticulate, Jim is mortified when Granville’s beautiful wife Zoe returns home. Jim privately vows never to look so slovenly in her presence again. However, over the following months, this same set of events plays out repeatedly: Every time he visits Granville, Jim ends up overindulging in food and drink and embarrasses himself before Zoe. Jim eventually learns to reconcile himself with this ridiculous situation and to simply appreciate his amusing encounters with the Bennetts.

Back in the Dales, Jim primarily works with larger animals and livestock, but he also has opportunities to work with the Darrowby locals’ pets. One time, he saves a severely abused dog named Roy. He considers euthanizing Roy because of his poor condition, but a woman named Mrs. Donovan ends up adopting the dog. She devotes herself to Roy’s care, and Roy becomes a fixture in the community. Jim also cares for Mrs. Bond and her numerous cats. He loves spending time at her home, chasing the cats around and witnessing their funny personalities. Another time, he accidentally kills Mrs. Tompkin’s bird and buys her a new budgie so she won’t feel alone without her pet. No matter the type of animal that Jim is working with, he thoroughly enjoys his work. He learns from his human clients and his animal patients alike, and he finds his career fulfilling.

In 1942, Herriot is drafted into the air force and forced to leave Darrowby for the war. Because of his connection with the place and community, he’s devastated to leave. As he drives out of town, he muses on his life in the Dales and hopes that he’ll be able to return soon.