James Herriot

James Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, known as Alf (October 3, 1916 - February 23, 1995), a British veterinary surgeon and writer.

Biography

Wight was born in Roker, Sunderland, England, his parents' original home, but grew up in Glasgow, Scotland.

Related Topics:
Roker - Sunderland - England - Glasgow - Scotland

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At the age of twenty-three he qualified as a veterinarian. Wight worked in a rural practice in the town of Thirsk in the Dales of Yorkshire, England, and is best known as the author of a series of books about his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. In his books, Thirsk's fictional counterpart is named 'Darrowby'.

Related Topics:
Veterinarian - Thirsk - Dales - Yorkshire - Royal Air Force - Second World War

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The books, which told of many comic and illustrative incidents in his career working for farmers and townsfolk in the Yorkshire Dales of Northern England, were enormously popular, and by the time of his death he was one of the foremost best-selling authors in both Britain and the United States. Despite his authorial success, he continued practising up to his death with his colleagues Donald and Brian Sinclair, the original models for his characters Siegfried and Tristan Farnon.

Related Topics:
Yorkshire Dales - Northern England - Britain - United States - Donald - Brian Sinclair

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The books were adapted into two films and a long-running BBC television programme; for more information about these adaptations, see All Creatures Great and Small.

Related Topics:
Film - BBC - Television program - All Creatures Great and Small

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The popularity of the books and their adaptations have inspired many to become vets themselves.

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