James Alfred Wight (who used “James Harriot” as a pen name) lived a life worth remembering. You might know James Harriot as the author of All Creatures Great and Small, which happens to be one of my all time favorite books—it’s hilarious, poignant, insightful, and beautifully written. Harriot finds significance and value in the smallest of moments, showing us that we don’t need to travel far and wide to experience the good life. Living deeply starts in the mundane, in the now. All that to say, All Creatures Great and Small is a must-read.
Back to the man behind the book, James Alfred Wight, called “Alf” for short. While All Creatures Great and Small is labeled a memoir, only about half of its content are from Wight’s life. The other half is fiction.
On his birthday, here’s a glimpse of Wight’s life you might not have caught from reading his books:
- After German air raids targeted his home cities, Wight enlisted in the RAF (Royal Air Force) in 1942 to serve as a pilot during World War II. He was a skilled pilot but was discharged a year later for health reasons. Going from the RAF to the Yorkshire countryside is quite the change!
- Wight started writing in earnest after twenty-five years of working as a veterinarian, in his fifties. For the first three years of his writing journey, Wight struggled with rejections. After a publisher advised him to write in the first person and take a more autobiographical route, he struck a tone that resonated with his readership and the rest is history.
- Wight’s books have sold over 100 million copies! His first six books have all sold over a million copies.
- In the book, Siegfried Farnon brought James into his veterinary practice as a partner. Siegfried is portrayed as cantankerous, eccentric, and loveable. Siegfried is based on Wight’s business partner, Donald Sinclair, who fits the bill for this characterization—which might even be a toned down version of what he was like! Wight’s son recalls that the reason Sinclair was “such an eccentric character was that he didn’t think he was.” At first, Sinclair took offense at his characterization in All Creatures Great and Small, saying to Wight, “This book is a test of our friendship.”