The Real James Herriot: The Authorized Biography

No one is better placed to write the biography of Alf Wight, alias James Herriot, than the son who worked alongside him in the veterinary practice during the time that James Herriot became a bestselling author. In this warm and often poignant memoir Jim Wight writes of a man who, despite his huge success as a writer, remained unchanged by wealth and fame; an essentially private person whose family had to share him with his millions of fans throughout the world. Alf Wight was born in Sunderland, but moved a few weeks later to Glasgow; here he had a happy rough-and-tumble childhood, After training at the Glasgow Veterinary College he accepted a job in the North Yorkshire town of Thirsk (aka Darrowby) wher he remained in practice for over 50 years. The story of the young vet’s journey to Thirsk to take up the post of assistant vet to Donald Sinclair (Siegfried Farnon) is one that is well known through James Herriot’s celebrated books, as well as two films and the All Creatures Great and Small television series. Alf Wight was respected and trusted by everyone whose animals he tended and, as James Herriot, loved by a huge and loyal readership the world over.