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The Other Side of the Dale
 
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The Other Side of the Dale (Paperback)

by Gervase Phinn (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Frequently Bought Together

The Other Side of the Dale + Over Hill and Dale + Head Over Heels in the Dales
Price For All Three: £20.97

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Product details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (1 April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140275428
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140275421
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 6,862 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #8 in  Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Teaching & Learning

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Amusing and serendipitous memories of Gervase Phinn's first year as County Inspector of 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 --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Description
This is a warm, funny and mostly true account of the first year that Gervase Phinn spent as a schools' inspector in North Yorkshire. His brilliantly portrayed cast includes his fellow inspectors who range from endearing to eccentric, sporting lords of the manor, Ministry bigwigs, formidable teaching nuns and a very attractive head-teacher who happens to be single, adding up to an enchanting montage of experiences. But it is the children themselves who steal the show, whether fresh-faced from the farms or worldly-wise from the towns. Gervase Phinn is a born raconteur who has transferred his talents to the written word with outstanding success.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Other Side of the Dale
79% buy the item featured on this page:
The Other Side of the Dale 4.1 out of 5 stars (27)
£6.99
The Heart of the Dales
6% buy
The Heart of the Dales 4.1 out of 5 stars (12)
£5.99
Up and Down in the Dales
5% buy
Up and Down in the Dales 4.8 out of 5 stars (6)
£6.99
Head Over Heels in the Dales
5% buy
Head Over Heels in the Dales 5.0 out of 5 stars (7)
£6.99

 

Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Gervase Phinn:- The Other Side of the Dale, 24 Mar 2004
By Graham Marsh (London, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book the first from School Inspector Gervase Phinn is a must for those who want a read that that urges you to turn the pages to see what happens next. Having read this book after my girlfriend, I can see now how she managed to go through it in a week. Gervase is a compeling story teller and, shows all to often how children can supprise us all in what they know and do. The only negative is that it ends to soon, so I recomend that you order all four and just go for it.

Brilliant, Gervase has created work that make reading a joy.

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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't want the book to finish, 3 Aug 2001
By A Customer
I loved this book - my mum had read it first and raved on about it - she was right. I work in Education in an FE college, but the people encountered in this book are everywhere not just in schools. The descriptions of people, places and situations were so vivid that it was like being there with the author. Can't praise it enough and am going to order "Over Hill and Dale"

Absolutely Brilliant!!

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Even Better than the paperback..., 4 Sep 2000
Read the paperback then listen to the tape. You will then want to read the book again, except this time you read it in the authors voice. But beware, laughing outloud at traffic lights when you are alone in the car does lead to some strange looks.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Gervase Phinn: the other side of the dale.
I bought this on behalf of my 18yr old grandson whose cassete version had broken. He is very pleased with the CD version.
Published 4 months ago by G. M. Wilkinson

5.0 out of 5 stars I have come to Uk to see Yorkshir
I read the book while i was studying at law school at University of Peshawar. it is really a great book. it helps one learn to enjoy every samll bit of life. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Suleman Suleman

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of the mouths of babes
I can wholeheartedly recommend all the five "Dales" books. I discovered Gervase Phinn after my mother who is a deputy head gave me the third book as a present. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Bookworm

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic
To paraphrase a well known saying, some writers have to work hard to find good writing material, others have good writing material thrust upon them. Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Marczak

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good read
I usually have about three books on the go at once but this one kind of took over. I read in in three evenings - it really is such a lovely book, I'd recommend it to anyone. Read more
Published on 1 Jul 2007 by Big Ger

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a patch on James Herriot
An easy read and quite enjoyable, but I won't be reading any more books in the series, I much prefer James Herriot. Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2006 by Dazalon

3.0 out of 5 stars the experience
After having heard excerpts of Mr Phinns accounts of his experiences as a school inspector on BBC radio 4, I was determined to hear more. Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2005 by Peter Gordon

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining and well read too
Strongly reminscent of the Vet stories also set in North Yorkshire but worthwhile and funny. The author reads them himself and sometimes it is hard to believe this is not fiction... Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2005 by Clarke Pitts

5.0 out of 5 stars The other side of the Dale
I read these books after seeing Gervase Phinn being interviewed on television. I found the books to be amusing, well written and offering an insight into Mr Phinn's life as a... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2004 by Mrs. S. Davies

3.0 out of 5 stars Warm and fuzzy?
I enjoyed this while washing up; engaging enough to catch and keep the attention, and a welcome relief from the news. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2003

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