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Quiz about All Things James Herriot
Quiz about All Things James Herriot

All Things James Herriot Trivia Quiz


James Herriot wrote a funny and charming series of books detailing his experiences working as a vet in Yorkshire during the first half of the 20th century. Let's see how familiar you are with the author and his stories!

A multiple-choice quiz by skippymac. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
skippymac
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
157,310
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
12 / 20
Plays
1624
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 149 (13/20), psnz (20/20), Guest 90 (14/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. What was the author's real name? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. What was the title of the first book written by James Herriot? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. What is the fictional name of the town where James lived and worked? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. How old was James (according to the books) when he first arrived in Yorkshire to interview for the veterinary assistant position at Skeldale House? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. Here is an easy one - what are the fictional names of the two brothers James worked with? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. What happened when James arrived at Skeldale House to meet his future boss for the first time? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. What was the name of Mrs Pumphrey's pampered Pekingese? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. What was the name of the housekeeper at Skeldale House? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. What was the name of the pub where James and the Farnon brothers used to unwind over a pint most often? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. Where did James meet Helen, the girl he fell in love with and later married? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Tristan was always playing tricks. Once he dressed as a monk and pretended to be a ghost to frighten motorists as they passed an old abbey late at night - what happened? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. Where did James take Helen on their first date? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. James once spent an evening at the home of a farmer whose hobby was winemaking. The family teased him, saying "Dad and his wine, he's always looking for a victim!" But James found the homemade wines quite delicious. What type of wine was NOT one of the ones he sampled? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. Joe Mulligan often brought his Irish Wolfhound in to be seen, but the dog was so menacing that James and the brothers were never able to thoroughly examine him. Instead they prescribed some medicine, noting that the animal couldn't be seriously ill as it looked "pretty lively". What was the dog's malady? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. Mrs Pumphrey acquired an unusual pet to be a companion for her spoiled little dog - a pig! What was its name? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. When James and Helen married, they took in a ginger tabby cat that James had treated. However, the cat had the unusual habit of running away from home to attend all the local social functions. What was the cat's name? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. Granville Bennett was a colleague who seemed to always lead James into excesses of food and especially drink, much to James' discomfort and embarrassment. James particularly didn't like looking like a chump in front of the lovely Mrs Bennett. What was her name? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. When James found a tiny black kitten half-frozen among the rushes, the farmer's wife gave it "the old cure". What did she do? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. James and Tristan once were called to see an extremely hostile and difficult cat, and had an impossible time trying to catch it as it raced around the room "like a wall of death rider". What was the cat's name? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. Mr Partridge's dog Percy attracted a lot of embarrassing attention - first because of his ailment, and later because of a side-effect of the treatment. What was this side effect? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 149: 13/20
Mar 08 2024 : psnz: 20/20
Feb 10 2024 : Guest 90: 14/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was the author's real name?

Answer: James Alfred Wight

James Alfred Wight (or Alf Wight, as he was known) wrote his stories under the pen name James Herriot. Christopher Timothy is the actor who played the role of James Herriot in the BBC series "All Creatures Great and Small".
2. What was the title of the first book written by James Herriot?

Answer: "If Only They Could Talk"

James Herriot wrote his first book "If Only They Could Talk" at the age of 50, although it took 4 years before it was published in 1970. "It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" was his second book, published in 1972. "All Creatures Great and Small" is an omnibus edition incorporating his first two books, published in 1972. "Every Living Thing" was not published until 1992.
3. What is the fictional name of the town where James lived and worked?

Answer: Darrowby

Despite the fictitious name, fans discovered quickly where the "real" Darrowby was and it became quite a tourist attraction. Today there are museums and libraries celebrating the life of the popular vet from Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
4. How old was James (according to the books) when he first arrived in Yorkshire to interview for the veterinary assistant position at Skeldale House?

Answer: 21

James arrived in "Darrowby" in 1937, shortly after graduating from Veterinary College. He was understandably concerned about finding employment in his chosen field, as he had heard plenty of horror stories at college, but he was hired and remained there until his retirement.
5. Here is an easy one - what are the fictional names of the two brothers James worked with?

Answer: Siegfried and Tristan

Donald Sinclair was "Siegfried" in the books, and Brian Sinclair was "Tristan".
6. What happened when James arrived at Skeldale House to meet his future boss for the first time?

Answer: He had forgotten about the interview and gone out, and James had to wait for him all day

James was quite distressed to hear upon arriving that Siegfried had gone to visit his mother in Brawton. While he waited for Siegfried to return, he had a few confusing conversations with clients, an uncomfortable tea with a lady friend of Siegfried's, and eventually fell asleep in the garden before finally meeting his boss.
7. What was the name of Mrs Pumphrey's pampered Pekingese?

Answer: Tricki Woo

Some of Tricki Woo's unique ailments included going "flop bott" and "cracker dog". He often sent gifts and letters to his dear "Uncle Herriot".
8. What was the name of the housekeeper at Skeldale House?

Answer: Mrs Hall

Miss Harbottle was the secretary Siegfried hired to do the bookkeeping and who found his disorganized ways around the office extremely vexing.
9. What was the name of the pub where James and the Farnon brothers used to unwind over a pint most often?

Answer: The Drover's Arms

Although they frequented many establishments in the area, the Drover's Arms was most often their local haunt of choice, and Tristan would regularly be chatting up the barmaids.
10. Where did James meet Helen, the girl he fell in love with and later married?

Answer: At her home when he was called to see an injured calf

He later would run into Helen at all of these times, and it always made him a bit flustered as he was so smitten with her - and she was often in the company of her boyfriend.
11. Tristan was always playing tricks. Once he dressed as a monk and pretended to be a ghost to frighten motorists as they passed an old abbey late at night - what happened?

Answer: A policeman spotted him and gave chase, so Tristan hid in a smelly drainage pipe until he was gone

James did play a telephone prank on Tristan once in retaliation for the numerous tricks Tristan was always playing on him, but it wasn't in relation to this story.
12. Where did James take Helen on their first date?

Answer: A dinner dance at a posh hotel

James' suit didn't fit and Mrs Hall had to alter the seat of ths trousers, which the jacket was not long enough to cover. The road was flooded and they got soaked when the car filled with water, and had to push the stalled car. And when they finally arrived at the hotel the dance was not on after all. All in all, not a great first date!
13. James once spent an evening at the home of a farmer whose hobby was winemaking. The family teased him, saying "Dad and his wine, he's always looking for a victim!" But James found the homemade wines quite delicious. What type of wine was NOT one of the ones he sampled?

Answer: Raspberry

After all the wine tasting, James was really in an interesting condition to say the least. He was called to a neighbouring farm where he had great difficulty with such things as slippery soap and coherent speech.
14. Joe Mulligan often brought his Irish Wolfhound in to be seen, but the dog was so menacing that James and the brothers were never able to thoroughly examine him. Instead they prescribed some medicine, noting that the animal couldn't be seriously ill as it looked "pretty lively". What was the dog's malady?

Answer: Womitin'

"Oh aye, he's womitin' sorr! He's womitin' bad!"
15. Mrs Pumphrey acquired an unusual pet to be a companion for her spoiled little dog - a pig! What was its name?

Answer: Nugent

Although she originally kept it in the kitchen, the cook was not happy about this arrangement and James managed to convince Mrs Pumphrey that the pig would be happier outdoors. Still, he lived outdoors in style. "Nudist" is how the gardener mistakenly (or perhaps not!) pronounced Nugent.
16. When James and Helen married, they took in a ginger tabby cat that James had treated. However, the cat had the unusual habit of running away from home to attend all the local social functions. What was the cat's name?

Answer: Oscar

Unfortunately, the cat's owners turned up and James and Helen had to return Oscar to them.
17. Granville Bennett was a colleague who seemed to always lead James into excesses of food and especially drink, much to James' discomfort and embarrassment. James particularly didn't like looking like a chump in front of the lovely Mrs Bennett. What was her name?

Answer: Zoe

Victoria and Phoebe (or Phoebles, as Granville called her) were the Bennetts' two dogs. Daphne was the "lavishly endowed" girl that James danced with - until he saw Helen that is - the night he finally kissed her.
18. When James found a tiny black kitten half-frozen among the rushes, the farmer's wife gave it "the old cure". What did she do?

Answer: Put the kitten in a warm oven

Unusual, but it worked. She named the kitten Moses because it was found in the rushes, and it ended up joining a family of pigs in the barn.
19. James and Tristan once were called to see an extremely hostile and difficult cat, and had an impossible time trying to catch it as it raced around the room "like a wall of death rider". What was the cat's name?

Answer: Boris

Anyone who has ever tried to give a cat a pill will relate to James' difficulty, but Boris was a particularly uncooperative kitty! When James wrapped him in a towel to keep him still, it was no time at all before he had shredded his way out!
20. Mr Partridge's dog Percy attracted a lot of embarrassing attention - first because of his ailment, and later because of a side-effect of the treatment. What was this side effect?

Answer: All the neighbourhood dogs congregated at their house, with amourous intentions

Poor Mr Partridge was mortified, but still took Percy out for daily walks, armed with a stick - all in vain. The besotted animals were all over Percy, making for a most humiliating procession through the town.
Source: Author skippymac

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