James Herriot's Cat Stories

by James Herriot, Lesley Holmes (Illustrator)

Overview

Between the covers of this perfect gift book, teller and tales finally meet in a warm and joyful new collection that will bring delight to the hearts of readers the world over: James Herriot's Cat Stories.

Here are Buster, the kitten who arrived on Christmas; Alfred, the cat at the sweet shop; little Emily, who lived with the gentleman tramp; and Olly and Ginny, the kittens who charmed readers when they first appeared at the Herriots' house in the worldwide bestseller Every Living Thing.

And along with these come others, each story as memorable and heartwarming as the last, each told with that magical blend of gentle wit and human compassion that marks every word from James Herriot's pen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250061850
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/07/2015
Edition description:	Second Edition, New edition
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	54,680
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

James Herriot (1916-1995) was the bestselling author of memoirs including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, and Every Living Thing. At age 23, Herriot qualified for veterinary practice with the Glasgow Veterinary College, and moved to the town of Thirsk in Yorkshire to work in a rural practice. He would live in, work in, and write about the region for the rest of his life. Though he dreamed for years of writing a book, his veterinary work and his family kept him busy, and he did not start writing until the age of 50. In 1979, he was awarded the title Order of the British Empire (OBE). His veterinary practice in Yorkshire, England, is now tended by his son, Jim Wight.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	vii
	Alfred: The Sweet-Shop Cat	1
	Oscar: The Socialite Cat	21
	Boris and Mrs. Bond's Cat Establishment	47
	Olly and Ginny: Two Kittens Who Came to Stay	63
	Emily and the Gentleman of the Road	83
	Olly and Ginny Settle In	105
	Moses Found Among the Rushes	113
	Frisk: The Cat with Many Lives	123
	Olly and Ginny: The Greatest Triumph	135
	Buster: The Feline Retriever	149

Editorial Reviews

James Herriot found a gentle, wise and often humorous way to write about animals and to evoke a beautiful but fading way of life in those Yorkshire Hills. He showed me how to focus not just on the animals, but on the people who lived with the animals, and their loving, sometimes difficult and very wonderful connections with one another. While he is known for his wonderful writing about animals, I often think of his ability to capture people. From the first, I've tried to capture that feeling, that uplifting and heartwarming style. I can't say that I have ever quite matched the writing of James Herriot, but he has always inspired me and given me something to aim for. He often makes me smile, sometimes makes me cry, you can't really ask more from a writer than that.” —Jon Katz, New York Times bestselling author of Second Chance Dog, A Dog Year, A Good Dog, and many others

“I recall reading All Creatures Great and Small many years ago, while working as a veterinary technician for a mobile vet in Los Angeles. We worked with cats and dogs, of course, but with farm animals, too, and apes and monkeys and angry pet raccoons, burros, crows, macaws– the variety of pets in Los Angeles was limitless. During that wonderful time, I'd be beaten senseless by a kangaroo, held hostage by a love-struck chimpanzee, chased by angry hogs, and sat on by a miniature horse inside of a well-known celebrity's home. It was a magical time, and it made perfect sense for me to read Herriot in the evenings, a grand fellow who'd roam the English countryside making veterinary house calls, effortlessly moving from draft horses to kittens, healing, telling stories. I felt a kinship with him and his magical world, and marveled at his talent for drawing me into his cast of characters. Later in life, when I too would write of my experiences with animals and their people, I would hearken to Herriot's Yorkshire Dales, and to prose so genuine that it would help inspire my own career as a writer and pet behaviorist. Herriot to me remains a superhero of sorts, who, in visiting home after home like some veterinary Santa, taught me how simple, heartwarming prose about people and their animals could rise above the commonplace, and become art.” —Steve Duno, author of Last Dog on the Hill, The Everything Cat Book and The Amazing Dog Trick Book

From the Publisher

Viewers of Herriot's TV series All Creatures Great and Small will find themselves in familiar territory here. We meet Olly and Ginny, feral kittens who disdained indoor life. Frisks's ``spells'' were a puzzle until Herriot learned that the cat licked the medicine saucer of its owner, a terminal cancer patient. Oscar, an injured stray was notable for attending public meetings. Moses, a black kitten, joined a litter of pigs and was accepted by the sow. These heartwarming stories should make an ideal gift for cat lovers. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Books by the beloved Yorkshire veterinarian, best-selling author of such titles as All Creatures Great and Small, Every Living Thing, and James Herriot's Dog Stories, are always welcome. Cat lovers in particular will cheer this collection of favorite cat tales from Herriot's veterinary practice. Retired after over 50 years in practice, Herriot continues to entertain young and old alike with his storytelling ability. His current collection includes "Alfred, the Sweet-Shop Cat," "Boris and Mrs. Bond's Cat Establishment," "Moses Found Among the Rushes," and others. Guaranteed to warm the hearts of readers of all ages, this book is sure to be in demand. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/94.]-Edell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., Wis.

Library Journal

Stories culled from the works of veterinarian James Herriot show the way cats wander into people's lives, often having an unexpected impact. A few stories are humorous, such as the tale of Oscar's stops in town, while most are touching, sometimes bittersweet. Cat lovers will empathize with Herriot as he recalls how he struggled to bond with Ollie--a stray who took to his wife, Helen, but was wary of him--only to lose the cat shortly after making progress. Christopher Timothy, who played Herriot on the BBC, makes the stories his own, reading as if he were recalling his own experiences. At three hours, this short visit to the Yorkshire Dales will whet your appetite for more of Herriot's stories. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

JUNE/JULY 05 - AudioFile