The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father

This book is a real delight. I am sure that most readers are very familiar with James Herriot books. His books are a delight to read and are all written in the first person. This memoir, written by Jim Wight, who, like his father, is a veterinary surgeon. He relates how his father began his career and was an incredible human being, mild-mannered and modest. Alf Wight considered himself a veterinary surgeon first and an accomplished author second. He received many distinguished professional honours for his dedication to his profession and for his writing.Alf Wight’s pseudonym James Herriot was adopted and all his stories are written under that name. His books are timeless and he based his stories on the animals he treated and their owners. Jim Wight writes of the time since his father qualified and his wonderful devotion to his patients and their owners. It was a different era in veterinary science when antibiotics and steroids were still unknown, yet he adapted well to the later developments in his profession.James Herriot stories can still be enjoyed to this day despite the fact that the times have changed, but human nature still remains the same. Even when one picks up a James Herriot book of stories, each story is a gem and one can reread them even after so many years since they were written and enjoy them just as much as one did many years ago.Alf Wight’s love of animals and humans are well described in this book including the many honours he had received. He was a gentleman with many interests. Reading avidly, writing as well as being a great lover of sport and classical music. Apart from that, the reader also gets an insight into the veterinary profession as well as some of the colleagues and friends of Alf Wight, who were played such an important part in his life.This book was written in 1999 and it is really a great and interesting read. Here we experience the author, Jim Wight’s admiration for his father, his modesty, love of his wife (the author’s mother, Joan) and family that play such an important part in the wonderful personality of the talented Alf Wight.

I devoured every one of the books as a much younger married woman. Now, as an old widow, I have 're-read and watched this beautiful series on TV with relish. My husband and I went to the Yorkshire Dales in the early 90's, but only to see the country, not to disturb their privacy. It was truly a gorgeous place, and I am so grateful to have been able to see the beauty. I would like to thank you for writing this book for all of us who for so many years have felt that we know your father and so appreciate him and what he has done. Donna Ellis, Phoenix, Arizona

Terrific biography with many interesting insights to his best stories, from one of the recurring characters. Son Jimmy has his father’s writing gift!

A telling insight and sweet tribute from a son. Alfred Wight was even more humorous and sensitive than James Herriot.

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. The book presents Alf Wight (Herriot's real name) very sensitively, but also warts and all, though they were not many. The person you get to know does not feel like a varnished, touched-up version, but the real deal.Jim is definitely a good writer. He has his own flashes of humor that are nicely illuminated in the book. I finished it across two days of vacation reading and found it a very rewarding, touching, humorous story. It casts a sympathetic, but detailed eye on Herriot as well as his partner 'Siegfried' and his brother 'Tristan'. My only (minor) quibble with the biography is that it does not give the reader much of an insight into the author's mother 'Helen' - one of my own beloved characters from the Herriot books - or the author's sister Rosie, but that might be from a desire to protect their privacy from the eyes and minds of their millions of fans, which is understandable.A terrific read about a terrific man. WELL worth the time and expense. And please don't buy into the ludicrous point made by one of the critical reviewers, that this book contains not much original content and is just a compilation of excerpts from Herriot's many books. That is patently untrue!Highly recommended. Buy it and read it!

James Son wrote a wonderful book about his Father. I appreciate knowing his story after enjoying latest version of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. I’m reading all of James books now, wonderful heart warming stories, will bring tears to your eyes and laughter as well. What a wonderful man. Who lived a great life and loved what he did. A bygone era…

My dad love James Herriot and he loved the book

As a child in the 1950s, I used to watch veterinary movies at lunch time in school which I found very interesting and would Loved to have been a vet but l was never educated to that degree.

This book is for my personal reading pleasure.

ExcellentTom

Wem die Bücher und TV-Serie gefallen hat, kommt um dieses Buch nicht herum. Es ist nie langweilig und hoch interessant, wie hier Jim Wight aka James Herriot von seinem Sohn portraitiert wird. Der Autor hatte dazu ein umfangreiches Briefmaterial zur Verfügung, aus dem er manches Zitat entnommen hat. Ebenso findet man unveröffentlichtes Material. Auch viele Nebenpersonen aus dem Büchern werden, mit ihren richtigen Namen, vorgestellt. Diese Biografie bietet viel humorvolles, aber auch manches zum Nachdenken, den jeder Mensch hat auch seine dunklen Stunden. Am Ende des Buches hat man das Gefühl, so ziemlich alles über disen Menschen zu wissen, und das Begehren, die Bücher von James Herriot noch einmal im neuen Licht zu lesen.