Call number
BIO HERRIOT
Collection
Publication
Ballantine Books (2000), 371 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Medical. Nonfiction. HTML: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. 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. Alf Wight (aka James Herriot) grew up in Glasgow, where he lived during a happy rough-and-tumble childhood and then through the challenging years of training at the Glasgow Veterinary College. 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. But Jim Wight's biography ventures beyond the trials and tribulations of his father's life as a veterinarian to reveal the man behind the stories�??the private individual who refused to allow fame and wealth to interfere with his practice or his family. With access to all of his father's papers, correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs�??and intimate remembrances of all the farmers, locals, and friends who populate the James Herriot books�??only Jim Wight could write this definitive biography of the man who was not only his father but his best friend. NOTE: This edition does not include a p… (more)
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member DanStratton
Alfred Wight, a.k.a. James Herriot, is obviously a favorite author of mine. It wasn't until I was reading All Creatures Great and Small a couple months ago that I realized Herriot was a pen name. As I dug into it farther, I discovered more information, but still was curious about the "real" James
While he readily admits he is not the author his father was, Jim does a good job of chronicling the life of his father. Jim is also a vet, being a partner in the practice of Donald Sinclair ("Siegfried Farnon") and his father. He had a front row seat to all the stories the rest of us have read and enjoyed. In fact, several of the stories in the books were borrowed from Jim's own experiences, adopted by James Herriot. Alf occasionally rewrote actual experiences that happened to other vets of his personal acquaintance into the life of James Herriot. He changed names, dates, even sexes (Mrs. Harbottle was actually a man) to better tell the stories and keep things anonymous. He tried for years to preserve the anonymity of himself and the district. It didn't work, though. At times, tourists would show up for the surgery hours, waiting next to the cats and dogs to get an autograph. He was very gracious and never turned anyone away.
I won't go into detail about all the real details. Suffice it to say that if you are interested at all in James Herriot, read the book. It isn't a page turner like his Dad's, but it is good. One note on the integrity of Alf to his practice (he still practiced into his seventies) and his love for the Yorkshire Dales. When the profits from the books really started rolling in, he was advised several times to leave England for tax purposes. At the time, Britain was taxing him nearly 90% of all the profits! Despite the fact he was selling millions of copies each year, it took him over a decade to get much money off of the books. He still had to work full-time as a vet to make ends meet even though his books topped the best seller lists. Alf wouldn't move, having the distinction of the only highly successful English author of the time to not expatriate. It took a change in the government (and tax policies) for him to finally become a millionaire.
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Herriot. I was at the public library and by chance stumbled onto this book, written by his son. It fills in all the holes and gives all the background I could have asked for in learning more about Alf Wight.While he readily admits he is not the author his father was, Jim does a good job of chronicling the life of his father. Jim is also a vet, being a partner in the practice of Donald Sinclair ("Siegfried Farnon") and his father. He had a front row seat to all the stories the rest of us have read and enjoyed. In fact, several of the stories in the books were borrowed from Jim's own experiences, adopted by James Herriot. Alf occasionally rewrote actual experiences that happened to other vets of his personal acquaintance into the life of James Herriot. He changed names, dates, even sexes (Mrs. Harbottle was actually a man) to better tell the stories and keep things anonymous. He tried for years to preserve the anonymity of himself and the district. It didn't work, though. At times, tourists would show up for the surgery hours, waiting next to the cats and dogs to get an autograph. He was very gracious and never turned anyone away.
I won't go into detail about all the real details. Suffice it to say that if you are interested at all in James Herriot, read the book. It isn't a page turner like his Dad's, but it is good. One note on the integrity of Alf to his practice (he still practiced into his seventies) and his love for the Yorkshire Dales. When the profits from the books really started rolling in, he was advised several times to leave England for tax purposes. At the time, Britain was taxing him nearly 90% of all the profits! Despite the fact he was selling millions of copies each year, it took him over a decade to get much money off of the books. He still had to work full-time as a vet to make ends meet even though his books topped the best seller lists. Alf wouldn't move, having the distinction of the only highly successful English author of the time to not expatriate. It took a change in the government (and tax policies) for him to finally become a millionaire.
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LibraryThing member freddlerabbit
I was initially hesitant to pick up this memoir, because the James Herriot books had been my constant companions as a young girl, and I had grown to love the author that I knew through those pages. I wasn't sure if this book would be some sort of tell-all, expose, that revealed a darker side of the
Jim seemed to have been aware of the concerns - the prologue acknowledges the Herriot legacy, and reassures the reader that no dark surprises are in store. This is true; however, it doesn't mean there are no surprises at all, or that the book isn't worth reading. Anyone who loved the Herriot books and would love to know more of the story behind them should pick this up.
Wight, as he acknowledges fearing in the prologue, is not the writer his father was. The style becomes slightly repetitive - details or phrases appear several times over the course of the memoir when once would do; sometimes, he veers close to being a recitation of the facts. But these faults are easily overlooked by how compelling his subject matter is, and the obvious love with which he addresses it. He uses the occasional story that Herriot readers would be familiar with, but mostly focuses on biography and remembered experience, and brings us something new and lovable.
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vet I thought I'd come to know and love - if it had been, I'd rather have been left in the dark. But I needn't have worried - the history of Alf Wight, told by his son, is honest and clear, but also full of love, and provides us a man who is close to the one who came through his words. Jim seemed to have been aware of the concerns - the prologue acknowledges the Herriot legacy, and reassures the reader that no dark surprises are in store. This is true; however, it doesn't mean there are no surprises at all, or that the book isn't worth reading. Anyone who loved the Herriot books and would love to know more of the story behind them should pick this up.
Wight, as he acknowledges fearing in the prologue, is not the writer his father was. The style becomes slightly repetitive - details or phrases appear several times over the course of the memoir when once would do; sometimes, he veers close to being a recitation of the facts. But these faults are easily overlooked by how compelling his subject matter is, and the obvious love with which he addresses it. He uses the occasional story that Herriot readers would be familiar with, but mostly focuses on biography and remembered experience, and brings us something new and lovable.
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LibraryThing member Fliss88
So wanted to read this book as I have loved all the books by James Herriot and the television adaptations. Such a wonderful life, full of loveable characters, and here we get the story of the real man from his son.
LibraryThing member SquirrelHead
Having just read dan Stratton's review of this book and don't feel like I could add anything else! Well done, Mr Stratton :-)
I am also a big fan of the Herriott stories and own the DVD series as well. So much of it was entertaining and I admit to feeling so bad about what happened to some of the
The memoir was well written and for anyone who is a fan of James Herriott, thi9=s is surely the book tio read about his life in England, his wife Helen and the practice, It's a keeper.
I am also a big fan of the Herriott stories and own the DVD series as well. So much of it was entertaining and I admit to feeling so bad about what happened to some of the
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major "characters"...don't want to give anythign away.The memoir was well written and for anyone who is a fan of James Herriott, thi9=s is surely the book tio read about his life in England, his wife Helen and the practice, It's a keeper.
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LibraryThing member Chris.Graham
A touching recollection of his father.
LibraryThing member LibraryCin
3.75 stars
“James Herriot” was the pseudonym of a veterinarian, James “Alf” Wight, who became an author after decades of veterinary practice in the countryside of England in the mid-20th century. This biography was written by his son. Instead of, like Herriot’s books, a focus on the
I’ve only read a couple of Herriot’s books, but I’ve really enjoyed them. This biography is very good, as well, and of course, there have to be a few animal stories thrown in – not only of a few of the patients, but also of Alf’s own pets. It’s been a bit too long for me to remember the “characters” in Herriot’s books to compare them to the real life versions of those people, but I still quite liked this book.
“James Herriot” was the pseudonym of a veterinarian, James “Alf” Wight, who became an author after decades of veterinary practice in the countryside of England in the mid-20th century. This biography was written by his son. Instead of, like Herriot’s books, a focus on the
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animals, this book focuses on Alf and the people in his life – his family, lifelong friends, veterinary partners, and more – starting with his life in the country and his vet practice, then switching to writing books, which he also really seemed to enjoy.I’ve only read a couple of Herriot’s books, but I’ve really enjoyed them. This biography is very good, as well, and of course, there have to be a few animal stories thrown in – not only of a few of the patients, but also of Alf’s own pets. It’s been a bit too long for me to remember the “characters” in Herriot’s books to compare them to the real life versions of those people, but I still quite liked this book.
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LibraryThing member loraineo
this was a really good memoir of "James Herriott", written by his son. Not a surprise that his son describes him as a sensitive, nice man, just as we would expect. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end .Nice pictures.
LibraryThing member gmillar
I dipped in and out of this book as I had it in my vehicle for that very purpose. It is a wonderful story about a wonderful man. The only disappointing thing for me was that this edition had such poor-quality reproductions of the original photographs.
Pages
371
ISBN
0345421515 / 9780345421517