All Writings Great and Small

The world of James Herriot has expanded far beyond its British beginnings. The stories of this Yorkshire veterinarian and his work in the fictitious town of Darrowby, have reached around the globe. His works have been translated into dozens of languages and read in numerous countries. Despite (or perhaps because of) his popularity, there has been little critical examination of Herriot’s literary corpus. With a handful of exceptions, the Academy has largely turned a blind eye to his efforts. This essay suggests that we reread this popular author and explore the possibility that when we encounter the stories of life in the Yorkshire dales, we are in fact, encountering an important work of travel literature. Following a brief examination of his life, this essay focuses on themes in Herriot’s books that share much in common with other works of travel writing.