Fresh out of Veterinary College, and shoulder-deep in an uncooperative cow, James Herriot's first job is not panning out exactly as expected... To a Glaswegian like James, 1930s Yorkshire appears to offer an idyllic pocket of rural life in a rapidly changing world. But even life in the sleepy village of Darrowby has its challenges. On the one hand there are his new colleagues, Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, two brothers who attract a constant stream of local girls to whom James is strangely invisible. On the other he must contend with herds of semi-feral cattle, gruff farmers with incomprehensible accents and an overweight Pekingese called Tricki Woo Heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measure, If Only They Could Talk is a book for all those who find laughter and joy in animals, and who know and understand the magic and beauty of Britain's wild places. 'Bulls with sunstroke, pigs on the run and a cake-eating Peke with a betting habit... I grew up reading James Herriot's book and I'm delighted that thirty years on they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then' Kate Humble 'It's a pleasure to be in James Herriot's company' Observer 'After an evening among his tales, anyone with as much as a dog or a budgerigar will feel he should move to Darrowby at once' Yorkshire Post.

«The Yorkshire dales have never seemed more beautiful for James — now he has a lovely wife by his side, a partner's plate on the gate and the usual menagerie of farm animals, pets and owners demanding his constant attention and teaching him a few lessons along the way. All of the old Darrowby friends are on top form — Siegfried thrashes round the practice, Tristan occasionally buckles down for finals, and James is signed up for a local cricket team. 'He can tell a good story against himself, and his pleasure in the beauty of the countryside in which he works is infectious', observes «The Daily Telegraph». 'Full of warmth, wisdom and wit' — «The Field». 'It is a pleasure to be in James Herriot's company' — «Observer».»

«Take an unforgettable journey through the English countryside and into the homes of its inhabitants — four-legged and otherwise — with the world's best-loved animal doctor. For over 25 years, since «All Creatures Great and Small» was first published, readers have delighted to the storytelling genius of James Herriot, the Yorkshire veterinarian whose fascinating vignettes brim with the wonder of life, animal and human.»

Young James, now married and working as a small-town vet, encounters a cast of extraordinary characters as he makes his way through the Yorkshire countryside tending to sick cattle, pregnant ewes, ailing dogs — and their eccentric owners. As always, Herriot's warmth, humor, and singular view of life makes readers laugh and cry, as they marvel at the everyday miracles he creates.

In the midst of WW II, James is training for the Royal Air Force, while going home to Yorkshire whenever possible to see his very pregnant wife, Helen. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing characters — animal and human alike — Herriot enthralls readers once again with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn.