I can't recall if James Herriot was ever called to administer to hens, but
all sorts of animals, both domestic and farmyard, crossed his path in his brilliant series of autobiographical books. The first, 'If Only They Could Talk' traced his progress as a young vet fresh out of college going to work in Yorkshire. A winning combination of comedy and pathos, the books painted a wonderful picture of life in rural England in the 1940s and '50s. They have been successful adapted for both cinema and television.