The Other Side of the Dale: Abridged

Gervase Phinn meets head teachers, checks school curriculums, selects an unpopular winner in a poetry competition, and gains confidence of the shyest and the most stubborn with innate diplomacy. He graciously accepts endless inaccuracies in the spelling and pronunciation of his name--"he's called Mr Grim and he's a spectre"--becomes much sought-after and admired by the county's matrons, and his heart is set a'flutter by a pretty, unmarried headmistress with whom he longs to be more intimately acquainted.

A good-natured, entertaining storyteller obviously committed to his calling, Mr Phinn's occasional inaccuracy in rendition in no way detracts from his warm and enjoyable reading. --Running time approx 3 hours --Lynn Took

Gervase Phinn has pinched James Herriot’s plot: new to the job but very enthusiastic; has to get used to the quirky way of his colleagues and ‘clients’; gauche attempts at courting future wife etc. If you like Alfred Wight’s James Herriot, you’ll be very disappointed. ‘The Other Side of the Dale’ is a very second rate version of the same idea, but not so well done. Gervase Phinn doesn't do justice to his Yorkshire characters, his Yorkshire scenery or the content of his Yorkshire tales. James Herriot’s prose is far superior and he conveys his love of the beautiful but harsh Yorkshire dales so much better.