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The Other Side of the Dale
Amusing and serendipitous memories of Gervase Phinn's first year as County Inspector of
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Schools in North Yorkshire. The children he meets seem to be little adults, full of the language and prudence of their mostly land-worker parents; able to hold thei...
Schools in North Yorkshire. The children he meets seem to be little adults, full of the language and prudence of their mostly land-worker parents; able to hold thei...
Schools in North Yorkshire. The children he meets seem to be little adults, full of the language and prudence of their mostly land-worker parents; able to hold their own on the finer points of animal husbandry and farm management. "Don't yer know yer sheep then?" asks a serious little boy, aged six, whose reading aloud is perfect but whose interest is more in identifying the breed of sheep in the accompanying illustration, which leads to a serious classroom discussion. 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
Schools in North Yorkshire. The children he meets seem to be little adults, full of the language and prudence of their mostly land-worker parents; able to hold their own on the finer points of animal husbandry and farm management. "Don't yer know yer sheep then?" asks a serious little boy, aged six, whose reading aloud is perfect but whose interest is more in identifying the breed of sheep in the accompanying illustration, which leads to a serious classroom discussion. 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
Advantages: Well-written, light humour, interesting anecdotes Disadvantages: Too little character development, not much plot
...1998, 'The Other Side of the Dale' is a semi-biographical account of a school inspector in Yorkshire. The author, Gervase Phinn, was advertised as 'The James Herriot of schools', which sounded very appealing to me. I love the Herriot books, and I was involved in my sons' primary school some years ago while they underwent OFSTED inspection, so I thought the combination could make an excellent read.
However a relative who read the book told me that ... ...So rather than buying the book, I forgot about it until I happened to come across it a few months ago in a charity shop. • What it's about •
The author, who was a teacher until 1984, and later on a school inspector for English and Drama in Yorkshire, tells the story of his interview and appointment to the inspector's job, and his initial visits to various schools in his district. Rather like James Herriot's books, it's hard to know what is true ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Sweet, funny and brilliantly written Disadvantages: None
Gervase Phinn is one of the best 'story tellers' I've ever read. Buy it for your Mum, your Granny, but also for your husband - mine enjoyed it as a light and amusing change from Crime and Thriller reads.
Phinn's three books describing his life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales are both funny and warming. He brings the characters alive, the reader is left with both visual images and a strong feeling of knowing these folk - the reader feels ... ...too amusing to dislike.
The children, who Phinn encounters in his work, are as funny and endearing (and I don't like kids) as the adults - again, very clever writing, and extremely easy reading, from Phinn.
If you want to read a great story, that will leave you smiling and wanting more, Phinn's 'The Other Side of the Dale', 'Over Hill and Dale' and 'Head Over Heels in the Dales' are for you. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
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