James wight, son of the famous james herriot, does an admirable job of filling in the often less than idyllic realworld background for an idyllic life and phenomenal literary success, without spoiling the effect of a humble, sensitive, and rewarding life. His novels if only they could talk and it shouldnt happen to a vet tell tales of the many characters and wonderful locations found around the fictional darrowby in north yorkshire. Now, in this warm and poignant memoir, jim wight talks about his fatherthe beloved veterinarian whom his family had to share with half the world. Author james herriots complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability.
Wight is now the author of his own book, james herriot. The book presents alf wight herriots real name very sensitively, but also warts and all, though they were not many. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. His final published work, published posthumously, was james herriots yorkshire revisited in 1999. James herriot is currently considered a single author. The book is a combination of james herriots first two semiautobiographical books, originally published in the u.
Written by his son it is as interesting and heart warming as the books of james herriot. A memoir of my father paperback may 1, 2001 by james wight author 4. The authorized biography enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. James alfred wight, obe, frcvs 3 october 1916 23 february 1995, known by the pen name james herriot, was a british veterinary surgeon and writer who used his many years of experience as a veterinary surgeon to write a series of books consisting of stories about animals and their owners. All creatures great and small the real james herriot author alf wight.
James herriot was a country animal doctor who recanted his life into stories, which became all creatures great and small and other books and audios. He adjusted the chronology of his books slightly compared with his reallife experiences. A fascinating look at the man behind the bestselling books that touched so many lives. His voice sounds just the way id imagined herriots voice sounding and to be sure, i went rummaging about on the internet for some old interview footage with james herriot. The book presents alf wight herriot s real name very sensitively, but also warts and all, though they were not many. Wight the younger who followed in his fathers footsteps and later joined the practice in thirsk, is undoubtedly the best person. Millions of people have been fascinated by the tales of a yorkshire dales vet in the books by james herriot real name alf wight. Now, in this warm and poignant memoir, jim wight talks about his father the beloved veterinarian whom his family had to share with half the world. Author alf wight who used a pen name based the character on his own experiences as a country vet. James herriot books list of books by author james herriot. Warm and joyful tales by the author of all creatures great and small, and creature grandi e piccole, and more on. The story of how the young vet later traveled to the small yorkshire town of thirsk, aka darrowby, to take the job of assistant vet is one that is well known through james herriot s internationally celebrated books and the popular all creatures great and small television series. Jack canfield author of chicken soup for the soul detailed and thorough. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the real james herriot.
James herriot, as many know, was alf wights pen name. Herriot, whose real name was james alfred wight, was born in glasgow in 1916. A memoir of my father ebook written by james wight. The real james herriot ebook by james wight rakuten kobo. He is best known for these semiautobiographical works, beginning with all creatures. The bbc also developed a three part drama in 2010 titled young james herriot which utilized case notes and diaries to tell the story of the author. He was the author of bestselling books like all creatures great and small, which went on to become a wildly successful tv series in the 1970s. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Buy your james herriot signed books from the leading james herriot autograph expert on the internet, from james herriots home county of yorkshire based rareandsigned. James alfred alf wight, obe, frcvs 3 october 1916 23 february 1995, known by the pen name james herriot, was a british veterinary surgeon and writer, who used his many years of experiences as a veterinary surgeon to write a series of books each consisting of stories about animals and their owners. No one is better poised to write the biography of james herriot than the son who worked alongside him in the yorkshire veterinary practice when herriot became an internationally bestselling author.
Moves from his childhood through his veterinary school years and provides more fact about wights life as a vet than the somewhat fictionalized pieces seen in his books. All creatures great and small the real james herriot. James herriot project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. A book titled young james herriot was written to accompany the series by historian and author john lewisstempel. Donald sinclair, 84, inspiration for herriot s veterinary tales. The book is a combination of james herriot s first two semiautobiographical books, originally published in the u. Books by james herriot national library service for the. He was the author of bestselling books like all creatures great and small, which went on. The authorized biography new ed by wight, jim isbn. We always wanted to know about the real life james herriot and the characters portrayed. All creatures great and small the real james herriot author. The story of how the young vet later traveled to the small yorkshire town of thirsk, aka darrowby, to take the job of assistant vet is one that is well known through james herriots internationally celebrated books and the popular all creatures great and small television series. He was an english writer and veterinary surgeon whose association with animals led him to write several books about animals and the people who owned them.
This book is the life story of james herriot, whose real name was alf wight, written by his son, and it was a seriously delightful book. All creatures great and small is a british television series based on the books of the british veterinary surgeon alf wight, who wrote under the pseudonym james herriot. James herriot is a wonderful story teller and the best thing is you dont have to read the books in one sitting. A biography of a veterinary surgeon, the real life experiences of whom were adored world over. Darrowby was immortalized in herriot s bestselling books. A heartfelt account of the life of alf wight, veterinarian author of the bestselling james herriot books, by his son. Offers a glimpse into the life of alf wight, known as james herriot. James herriot has to be one of the most beloved authors in history, and the delightful thing about this book is that it shows the person behind the books was just as good as the books. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. About the real james herriot no one is better poised to write the biography of james herriot than the son who worked alongside him in the yorkshire veterinary practice when herriot became an internationally bestselling author.
Darrowby was immortalized in herriots bestselling books. The real james herriot is a friendly book punctuated by passages that reaffirm our trust in the old axiom that a smile warms two hearts. Fear not the real james herriot is as lovely as you hoped he was, just as the real siegfried is as eccentric and the real tristan as charming. The younger wight, who worked alongside his father in theyorkshire practice familiar to millions through books, movies, and television, has created a loving, unsentimental portrait of his wellknown father. Buy your james herriot signed books from the leading james herriot autograph expert on the internet, from james herriot s home county of yorkshire based rareandsigned. James herriot was the pen name of retired vet james alfred wright, whose wife joan was named helen in the popular books and tv series james herriot, pictured with a new born lamb and its mother.
James herriot, or to use his real name, alf wight, is one of the bestloved british authors of all time. Herriots world was not dedicated merely to animals or to humans, or to work or to his family, but to lifeall creatures, great and small. Martins paperbacks first published 1972 more details. Wrapper has some handling wear and marks over the years, though is now housed in a protective mylar sleeve. May 01, 2001 james herriot s son jim wight has written an outstanding, warmly written book that provides real insight into the wonderful human being behind the famous author james herriot that millions of us love. He was over fifty when his first book of stories about life as a yorkshire vet was published, giving birth to some of yorkshires most famous and muchloved literary characters. When worldfamous veterinary surgeon james herriot died in 1995, the bestselling yorkshire country animal doctor was known to millions of fans through his books and the tv series all creatures great a. The real name of my fathers lifelong partner, better known to the millions of james herriot fans as siegfried farnon, and the pivotal character running throughout his books. James herriots books were adapted into a movie titled all creatures great and small in 1975, as well as a long running series of the same name which aired on bbc television. If there is any justice, this book will become a classic of its kind. No one is better poised to write the biography of james herriot than the son who worked alongside him in the yorkshire v. Real james herriot wight, james 9780345434906 amazon.
Below is a list of james herriots books in order of when they were originally published. The younger wight, who worked alongside his father in theyorkshire practice familiar to millions through books, movies, and television, has created a loving, unsentimental portrait of. James herriot became a published author in 1970 with the book if only they could talk. The reallife models for the colorful characters and incidents in the herriot books are lovingly explained throughout, making the book feel like an. Published may 1st 2001 by ballantine books first published january 1st 1999. In real life, alf arrived in thirsk in 1940, by which time the war had been in progress for several months. James herriot was born on october 3, 1916, in sunderland, county durham, england. His son, jim wight, upon his fathers death, composed a tribute to a man we all thought we knew in the real james herriot. In 1940, after graduating from glasgow veterinary college, he moved to the rural community where his books are set. Jun, 2017 a year ago, i interviewed james herriots son, james wight.
James herriot, eigentlich james alfred alf wight 3. James herriots son jim wight has written an outstanding, warmly written book that provides real insight into the wonderful human being behind the famous author james herriot that millions of us love. Read the real james herriot a memoir of my father by james wight available from rakuten kobo. See all books authored by james herriot, including james herriots treasury for children. He had the big one a proper nervous breakdown when i was in sixth.
The reallife models for the colorful characters and incidents in the herriot books are lovingly explained throughout, making the book feel like an earnest making of. We meet in thirsk, the cobbled market town in north yorkshire which was given the fictional name darrowby in the vet books. James herriot s memoirs have sold 80 million copies worldwide, and continue to delight and entertain readers of all ages. Theres only more depth here, a little bit of unpicking stories that were merged to create the books youve already no doubt read, and a few sad passages of things that were left out. In 1977, the bbc tasked producer bill sellars with the creation of a television series from herriots first two novels, if only they could talk and it. Apr 12, 2000 james herriot, as many know, was alf wights pen name. I am a sceptic by nature but that extraordinary, almost supernatural episode swayed my decision to accept the challenge of writing the story of my fathers life. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Writing autobiographical stories of his days as a vet in the yorkshire dales, herriot. The real life models for the colorful characters and incidents in the herriot books are. In the books, james herriot arrived at darrowby in the mid 1930s and one book describes the events leading up to the outbreak of world war ii. In 1940, after graduating from glasgow veterinary college, he moved to. Each chapter can be read separately because each one has its own stor.
No one is better poised to write the biography of james her. James herriots memoirs have sold 80 million copies worldwide, and continue to delight and entertain readers of all ages. James alfred wight, obe frcvs 3 october 1916 23 february 1995, known by the pen. No one is better poised to write the biography of james herriot than the son who. The advice from siegried that changed james herriots life. A year ago, i interviewed james herriots son, james wight. Christopher timothy noone is better placed to write the biography of alf wight, alias james herriot, than his son, who worked alongside him. Three decades after his first book was published in england, james herriots charming tales of life as a country vet in yorkshire continue to delight readers. He wrote many autobiographies concerning animals including if only they could talk in 1970. You will laugh, you will cry and sometimes you will find yourself nodding in agreement. After qualifying as a vet in 1939, alf wight, aka james herriot, moved to a veterinary practice in thirsk.