James Herriot was one of the best loved authors of his time. His fans were — and are — passionately devoted to his writings. To say that All Creatures Great and Small and its sequels inspire love in a multitude of American readers would be no exaggeration. One possible reason for this love could be the strong appeal of the pastoral — a kind of writing that emphasizes the merits of rural life — during times when people feel under great stress from a complex and intrusive culture; its fans tend to be urban dwellers who fantasize about an unreal, imagined simpler country life. This aspect of Herriot's appeal offers excellent opportunities for discussion: How realistic is his portrayal of rural life? Does he romanticize it? Are his passionate readers indulging in a fantasy of a.....
