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- Masterpiece
- He Started Writing at Age 50. Wight’s early ambitions to author a book were sidelined by the long hours demanded of a rural vet. He finally began a manuscript in 1965 after some persuading by his wife.
- Legions of Fans Called at His Veterinary Practice. By the late 1970s, James Herriot was becoming a household name, his books each selling more than a million copies.
- Queen Elizabeth was an Admirer. With literary fame came an invitation for Alf Wight to join Her Majesty for lunch. “Over a private [meal] at Buckingham Palace, she told [him] his were ‘the only books that have made me repeatedly laugh out loud,’” the author’s children tell the Daily Mail (UK).
- He Struggled with Depression. For a man who delivered such uplifting stories, it’s a surprise to learn from his son, Jim Wight, that the vet and author suffered from depression at times, and especially after the 1960 death of his father.
Children. 2. James Alfred WightOBE FRCVS(3 October 1916 – 23 February 1995), better known by his pen name James Herriot, was an English veterinary surgeonand author. Born in Sunderland, Wight graduated from Glasgow Veterinary Collegein 1939, returning to England to become a veterinary surgeonin Yorkshire, where he practised for almost 50 years.
Timeline. James Herriot born James Alfred Wight in Sunderland England, October 3, 1916. Moved to Glasgow, Scotland as child, late October 1916. Attended Yoker Primary School, August 1921 – June 1928. Attended Hillhead High School, September 1928 – 30 June 1933. Contracts diptheria in 1932. Graduated Glasgow Veterinary College on Dec 14, 1939.
Feb 19, 2021 · Wight didn’t fully retire until 1989, after 50 years as a vet. ... Jim Wight — a veterinarian like his father — writes that 90 percent of the stories are based on real cases, even if ...
- Jennifer Vineyard
- Was James Herriot A Real person?
- Was Wight Scottish Or English?
- Where Did Alf Wight (a.k.a. James Herriot) Have His Veterinary Practice?
- How Did Wight Become A Writer?
- When Did James Herriot Become Famous?
- Are Herriot’s Characters Based on Real people?
- How Did Wight Feel About The Film and TV Adaptations?
- What Is The Legacy of James Herriot?
- What Is The Order of James Herriot Titles?
- FAQ Content Sources
James Herriot was the pen name chosen by James Alfred “Alf” Wight, a rural veterinarian whose semi-autobiographical stories about caring for animals in the Yorkshire Daleshave been enjoyed by generations. His gift was an easy, conversational style that captured a fast-disappearing way of life and offered insights into human nature with warmth and a...
Though both Alf Wight and his character James Herriot speak with a Scottish accent, Wight is actually a born Englishman. His English parents moved into a tenement apartment in Glasgow early in their marriage. Young Hannah Wight returned to her family home in Sunderland, England to give birth in October 1916. Mrs. Wight and her 3-week-old baby retur...
Wight graduated from Glasgow Veterinary College at age 23 and started looking for a position. Contrary to popular belief, his very first professional job was back in Sunderland, England where he still had relatives to board with. That first position was tenuous; it depended on the success of a greyhound racing stadium nearby. In July 1940, Alf Wigh...
Alf Wight thoroughly appreciated great authors and was himself a talented letter writer. Over the years, his correspondence addressed both the enormous changes taking place in his profession and observations about locals he met, their customs and folk remedies. When verbally regaling his family with anecdotes, Wight repeatedly pledged to turn them ...
Alf Wight’s first two books of stories sold a few thousand copies each in the UK. It was a New York publisher who changed the childish-looking cover art and combined the works under the title “All Creatures Great and Small,” a phrase borrowed from the 19thcentury English hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful. The new volume wasn’t reviewed until mon...
The published stories share numerous autobiographical elements from Alf Wight’s life as a country vet: Wight lived and worked with Donald and Brian Sinclair in Skeldale House; there really was a love-hate relationship between the brothers; and, the elder Donald’s unpredictability and bluster, along with Brian’s antics and love of fun, provided much...
Whether he wanted it or not, Alf Wight’s fame sky-rocketed once a film adaptation of his books was released in 1975. According to his son, Wight’s emotions at that time “were ones of pride mixed with incredulity.”Wight approved scripts but did not want the job of veterinary advisor on set. And though the role of Donald Sinclair went to Anthony Hopk...
The James Herriot books have never been out of print since their 1970 debut. They have sold over 60 million copies worldwide, been translated into 20-plus languages, and adapted for film and television. For someone who started with practically nothing, it is a massive achievement. Alf Wight’s stories are timeless because of the emphasis on his rela...
If Only They Could Talk(1970 in UK) It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet(1972 in UK) All Creatures Great and Small(1972 as US compilation) Let Sleeping Vets Lie(1973 in UK) Vet in Harness(1974 in UK) All Things Bright and Beautiful(1974 as US compilation) Vets Might Fly(1976 in UK) Vet in a Spin(1977 in UK) All Things Wise and Wonderful(1977 as US compilat...
James Herriot’s Yorkshireby James Herriot and Derry Brabbs. St. Martin’s Griffin. 1981 edition.James Herriot: The Life of a Country Vet by Graham Lord. Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc. 1997.James Herriot: A Critical Companionby Michael John Rossi. Greenwood Press. 1977.The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Fatherby Jim Wight. Ballantine Books, 1999.- Christina Knight
Jan 1, 2001 · February 27, 2021. Very funny memories of Alfred Wight, the veterinarian who wrote as James Herriot, recounted by his son. Jim Wight describes his father's childhood in Glasgow, his years in veterinary school, and his work as Donald Sinclair's partner in Thirsk in Yorkshire, England. Jim identifies the real people who inspired the characters in ...
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When did Jim Wight retire from veterinary work?
What happened to Wight's veterinary practice?
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Who was James Alfred Wight?
Who was Jim Wight?
How long did it take Wight to become a vet?
Jim Wight, born in 1943, followed in his father's footsteps at the Glasgow Veterinary College, which by then was part of the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1966. In 1967 he joined the practice of Sinclair and Wight in Thirsk, working alongside his father and Donald Sinclair (aka Siegfried Famon) for the next twenty years, when Alf Wight retired.
