James Herriot, a pseudonym for Alfred Wight, was a country vet in Yorkshire Dales. His novels, characterized by humor and pathos, are based on his experiences with animals and the eccentric Sinclair brothers. His books have sold millions of copies and influenced many to take up veterinary medicine.
James Herriot is the author of a number of books based on his life as a country vet in the Yorkshire Dales. Herriot is a pseudonym, assumed because UK law would not allow vets to advertise their practices. The author was born Alfred Wight, in 1916. Early in his life, his parents moved to Scotland and in his books he always refers to himself as a Glaswegian.
In Scotland, Herriot graduated from Glasgow Veterinary College when he was 23 and found work with Donald Sinclair in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Despite his success as an author in the 1970s, he would remain in practice with Sinclair, and at times with his brother Brian Sinclair (Tristan), until a couple of years before his death in 1995.
After two years of practice with Donald, (Siegfried Farnon), Herriot married his beloved wife Joan Danbury, (Helen). They had two children, James and Rosie, whose names remain the same in the books. James Wight also became a veterinarian and eventually a partner in the Wight/Sinclair practice. Rosie has become a doctor.
James Herriot’s novels have sold millions of copies and he is one of the most popular contemporary authors in both England and the United States. His first book, If Only They Could Talk, was published in 1970. It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet followed in 1972. These books enjoyed immediate popularity in the UK, but American publishers thought the first novel was too short to be published. Instead, the books were combined in the United States as the single novel All Creatures Great and Small
The UK continued to publish the short novels Let Sleeping Vets Lie in 1973 and Vet in Harness in 1974. US publishers again merged the books into All Things Bright and Beautiful. Vets may Fly and Vet in a Spin were combined into the US publication All Things Wise and Wonderful. His latest novel has been published as The Lord God Made Them All in both the UK and the US. Herriot’s last work in 1979 is James Herriot’s Yorkshire, which is a description of the towns in which she worked. Further books were collections of stories from previous novels.
Herriot’s novels are notable for their characterizations, their observance of the peculiar, and their mix of humor and pathos. Humor is the main feature, and someone reading one of her novels must be prepared to unleash wild screams of laughter at various moments as the situations described are incredibly comical.
Siegfried and Tristan’s description was thought to have offended Donald for a while, though the two remained in practice together. Donald remarked that he felt his eccentricity was exaggerated. The Sinclairs’ intimates felt that Herriot actually downplayed Donald’s eccentricities.
Not only the animals, but also the interpersonal relationships between Herriot and the brothers are rich sources of humor throughout the novels. Siegfried as a character is a mixture of kindness, madness and self-righteousness that almost drives the author crazy by lecturing him about his faults and then committing them himself. Also, Tristan’s playful nature usually falls on the head of Herriot, who is subject to numerous practical jokes that make the tale wonderful.
The animal sections of the book demonstrate Herriot’s love and respect for animals. While the books are relatively tame in many respects, they may not be a good choice for readers younger than 11 or 12, as the author is quite frank about the many practical aspects of veterinary practice. There are numerous references to both rectal and vaginal exams of animals which may be a bit much for younger readers. However, teenagers and adults, especially animal lovers, can greatly appreciate these novels, which have influenced many young people to take up the practice of veterinary medicine.
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