James Herriot (real name James Alfred Wight) – 20th-century British vet and author, known for All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful. His semi-autobiographical books, filled with warmth and humour, celebrated the bond between humans and animals and made rural Yorkshire beloved worldwide.
✨ Practised as a country vet in Yorkshire for over 40 years. 🐕🦺 Took his pen name from a Scottish goalkeeper. 📚 Faced many rejections before his first book became a global hit. 🌿 His writing pioneered the “rural comfort” literary style. 🎬 Inspired the classic BBC series All Creatures Great and Small. 🏆 His books sold in the tens of millions and were translated widely. 💬 Blended animal cases with gentle life philosophy. 🐄 Farmers often recognised themselves in his tales and laughed about their “fame”. 📖 Continued veterinary work despite literary success. 😲 Admitted he wrote late at night to avoid disrupting his practice. 🙂 Said his real “co-authors” were the cows, dogs, and cats of Yorkshire.