His voice sounds just the way id imagined herriot s voice sounding and to be sure, i went rummaging about on the internet for some old interview footage with james herriot. James alfred wight, alf to his friends and family, was better known to the world as james herriot. The authorized biography new ed by wight, jim isbn. A heartfelt account of the life of alf wight, veterinarian author of the bestselling james herriot books, by his son.
James herriot often professed that he was ninetynine per cent vet and one per cent writer, but his sidelife was one that he treated with seriousness. Arguably the worlds most famous veterinarian, alf was unable to use his real name when he signed his first book contract because it was considered advertising and regarded as unprofessional conduct. Includes bibliographical references a portrait of the bestselling author of all creatures great and small by his son describes the life and times of the beloved yorkshire veterinarian, describing his devotion to his family, his work as a rural vet, and his writing. Jun, 2017 a year ago, i interviewed james herriots son, james wight. Video by his son james herriot on wikipedia world of james herriot website. James alfred wight, the real james herriot, was every inch the gentleman his many fans imagined him to be. However the family moved to yoker, a suburb of glasgow, when alf was three weeks old. James herriot was a pseudonym used by james alfred wight, who graduated from glasgow veterinary college in 1939 and soon began his practice in the farming town of thirsk better known to readers as darrowby.
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. This authorised biography, written by alfs son, jim, offers a greater insight into a charming, humble and downtoearth man, written by one of the people who knew him best. James herriot was born on october 3, 1916, in sunderland, county durham, england. Christopher timothy noone is better placed to write the biography of alf wight alias james herriot, than his son, who worked alongside him. A memoir of my father ebook written by james wight. Joan wight, wife and model for author herriot the new. His final published work, published posthumously, was james herriot s yorkshire revisited in 1999. 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 experiences as a veterinary surgeon to write a series of books consisting of stories about animals and their owners.
In real life, alf arrived in thirsk in 1940, by which time the war had been in progress for several months. The advice from siegried that changed james herriots life. 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. He moved to thirsk, north yorkshire, in 1940, to work for donald sinclair siegfried farnon at his practice at 23 kirkgate. Animals, as james alfred wight knew, are not possessions. All creatures great and small tv series 19781990 imdb. A memoir of my father kindle edition by wight, jim.
The real james herriot by jim wight, 9780140268812, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Alf wight the real james herriot initially stipulated that all the incidents in the tv series had to be closely based on those in his books. A year ago, i interviewed james herriot s son, james wight. Her husband, whose real name was james alfred wight, vividly depicted his wife as the endearing and supportive helen herriot in his memoirs, beginning with all. A memoir of my father 9780345421517 by wight, james and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
As i dug into it farther, i discovered more information, but still was curious about the real james herriot. I loved it all, from beginning to sometimes surprising middle to tearful end. By the end of season 3, all of wights books had been televised, and it was thought that the series would have to end. 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. His quaint turn of phrase evokes a bygone era when expressions such as having a turn or an attack of the vapours might just as easily be used. They are companions whose marks upon our lives are left untouched by the passage of time. Christopher timothy noone is better placed to write the biography of alf wight, alias james herriot, than his son, who worked alongside him. His final published work, published posthumously, was james herriots yorkshire revisited in 1999. But they said i couldnt because alf wight his real name was a. The world of james herriot museum is housed in james herriot s original home and surgery, skeldale house, at 23 kirkgate in thirsk, north yorkshire the real darrowby. James herriot project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Jul 18, 1999 her husband, whose real name was james alfred wight, vividly depicted his wife as the endearing and supportive helen herriot in his memoirs, beginning with all creatures great and small. Christopher timothy memoirbiography of james alfred wight, aka james herriot, by his son, who paints an endearing portrait of the vitnery who turned a modest practice in rural scotland into a.
After qualifying as a vet in 1939, alf wight, aka james herriot, moved to a veterinary practice in thirsk. A memoir of my father 9780345434906 by wight, james and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. He adjusted the chronology of his books slightly compared with his real life experiences. Alf wight qualified as a vet in 1939 and later he accepted a job in the.
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. But they said i couldnt because alf wight his real name was a very private man. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the real james herriot. The book series focuses on the adventures of veterinary surgeon james herriot, and are set in the fictional town of darrowby, based on a combination of thirsk, richmond, leyburn and middleham. James herriot, is obviously a favorite author of mine.
Herriot, whose real name was james alfred wight, was born in glasgow in 1916. James herriot real name james alfred wight was born on 3rd october 1916 in sunderland in the north east of england. Writing autobiographical stories of his days as a vet in the yorkshire dales, herriot. 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. The younger wight, who worked alongside his father in theyorkshire practice familiar to millions through books, movies. How we made all creatures great and small television. The real james herriot missouri libraries 2go overdrive. Christopher timothy memoirbiography of james alfred wight, aka james herriot, by his son, who paints an endearing portrait of the vitnery who turned a modest practice in rural scotland into a worldwide. He was made famous as the eccentric character siegfried farnon in the semiautobiographical books of james herriot alf wight, adapted for film and television as all creatures great and small. Alf wight james herriot was born on 3 october 1916 in sunderland, near newcastle.
It wasnt until i was reading all creatures great and small a couple months ago that i realized herriot was a pen name. Joan wight, wife and model for author herriot the new york. Donald vaughan sinclair 22 april 1911 28 june 1995 was a british veterinary surgeon who graduated from the royal dick school of veterinary studies in 1933. 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. 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. Now, in this warm and poignant memoir, jim wight talks about his fatherthe beloved veterinarian whom. He has his fathers voice and way of relating anecdotes. For him, writing was a hobby, much like his ineffectual turns at the violin and his more impressive gardening.
When he was just three weeks old his parents moved to glasgow where he grew up. Taped with the first portable video camerasrecorders then on the market. So wanted to read this book as i have loved all the books by james herriot and the television adaptations. A memoir of my father by jim wight 2001, paperback, reprint at the best online prices at ebay. A memoir of my father by jim wight 2000, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. No one is better poised to write the biography of james herriot than the son who worked alongside him in the yorkshire v.
The real james herriot new mexico library to go overdrive. James herriot became a published author in 1970 with the book if only they could talk. The real james herriot the ohio digital library overdrive. In the books james herriot works with fellow veterinary surgeons, siegfried and tristan farnon, based on real life counterparts, donald sinclair and his brother brian sinclair. Jim wight is talking about his fathers little attacks of melancholy. The real james herriot king county library system overdrive. Below is a list of james herriots books in order of when they were originally published. Feb 06, 2018 how we made all creatures great and small. Born in sunderland, england, wight lived in glasgow during his childhood and teenage years. 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. Writing autobiographical stories of his days as a vet in the yorkshire dales, herriot captured the hearts of people everywhere.
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. With full access to his fathers papers, correspondence, manuscripts, and photos, wight has created a fitting and affectionate tribute to the wellloved vet and author of all creatures great and small. Dec 20, 2015 james herriot portrait of a bestseller. 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. Read the real james herriot a memoir of my father by james wight available from rakuten kobo. Real james herriot wight, james 9780345434906 amazon. 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. Wight is now the author of his own book, james herriot. One a real persons name, the other that persons fictional alter ego. Oct 26, 2000 the real james herriot by jim wight, 9780140268812, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. James herriot, or to use his real name, alf wight, is one of the bestloved british authors of all time. His father james henry wight was a ship plater by trade but also an accomplished pianist and his mother, hannah bell, sang. Although herriot had been to buckingham palace the day before, he never once mentioned his audience with the queen. The real james herriot audiobook on cassette, 1999.
Jan 01, 1999 a glowing and appreciative homage to the late great alfred wight who penned the absolutely delightful all creatures great and small series under the pseudonym of james herriot by his son and fellow veterinarian james wight, and while the author might not possess the same power of penmanship that his father had, the real james herriot. Below is a list of james herriot s books in order of when they were originally published. Millions of people have been fascinated by the tales of a yorkshire dales vet in the books by james herriot real name alf wight. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. His son, jim wight, upon his fathers death, composed a tribute to a man. 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. Such a wonderful life, full of loveable characters, and here we get the story of the real man from his son. James wight, son of the famous james herriot, does an admirable job of filling in the often less than idyllic real world background for an idyllic life and phenomenal literary success, without spoiling the effect of a humble, sensitive, and rewarding life. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the real james herriot. He was a completely modest man who remained bemused by his success until the end of his life, yet this selfconfessed run of the mill vet is likely to be remembered for decades to come.
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. The name alf wight may not ring too many bells, but as james herriotthe author who brought the british countryside into millions of homeswight certainly made an. Alf wight aka james herriot grew up in glasgow, where he lived during a happy roughandtumble childhood and then through the challenging years of training at the glasgow veterinary college. All creatures great and small the real james herriot author alf wight. Son jim wight does a splendid job on this biography, and i am so happy to have read it. Aug 12, 2016 a brief visit with james herriot alfred wight at his veterinary clinic in thirsk, england in 1981. Now, in this warm and poignant memoir, jim wight talks about his father the beloved veterinarian whom. All creatures great and small the real james herriot author. In 1940, after graduating from glasgow veterinary college, he moved to the rural community where his books are set. The shocking truth about the man behind tvs most famous vet. 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. Author alf wight who used a pen name based the character on his own experiences as a country vet he had the big one a proper nervous breakdown when i was in. The minute i got the part of james herriot, i asked to meet him.
Herriots world was not dedicated merely to animals or to. He wrote many autobiographies concerning animals including if only they could talk in. A memoir of my father truly provides a sweet and loving. The younger wight, who worked alongside his father in theyorkshire practice.
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