ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL : COMPLETE BBC SERIES 6

James Herriot's beloved book and subsequent BBC series All Creatures Great & Small outline, with wry humor and exquisite detail, Herriot's experiences in the 1940s and '50s as a veterinarian in Yorkshire, England. The Complete Series 6 Collection continues the yarns into the '50s, as Herriot's practice expands and his home life with wife Helen becomes more important to him. Yet the most unforgettable moments remain not only his treating of the sick (or just plain ornery) cows, tabbies, and bunnies of the Yorkshire countryside, but also the eccentric, hard-working (or just plain ornery) residents of the county. This four-disc boxed set includes characters like twin brothers Roland and Oliver Strong, who live together in the cottage their mother left them--though they have refused to speak to each other for 50 years. Herriot gets the unenviable task of being summoned when one old coot accuses the other of poisoning one of his rabbits. The real pleasure of this series is simply letting the interaction of the characters wash over you, especially that of Herriot (played with bemused heart by Christopher Timothy) and his prickly partner, Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy). The pace is leisurely, which suits the subject perfectly; so brew another pot of tea and settle in for a cozy, uplifting experience. Extras include cast biographies. --A.T. Hurley