James Harriott: biography, creativity, books, quotes and reviews

James Harriott is an English writer, and also a veterinarian and pilot who is known for his series of books about animals. In his works he describes interesting cases that occur with an ordinary rural veterinarian in his practice.

short biography

Written by Harriott James, whose real name is James Alfred White, was born in 1916 in the northwest of England to the family of the conductor of the orchestra. James graduated from a veterinary college, and then moved to live in Yorkshire, where he began to practice veterinary medicine. With the outbreak of World War II, James retires to the service of the British Air Force pilot.

After the war, James returns home and continues his work. During the practice, there are small notes about animals, which James Harriot loved very much. Stories eventually unite into small chapters, and the chapters assemble into books of the same series. In the last years of his life, Harriott suffered a lot and died in 1995 with his family.

Career writer

The family and profession are what James Harriot devoted most of his time to. Notes of the veterinarian all grew, however time to write the book all was not. Finally, thanks to the efforts of his wife, at the age of 50 James begins to seriously engage in writing for the first time. He begins to work under a pseudonym, because at that time in England, any veterinary advertising was banned, and although the book was not, the author was still a practicing veterinarian. He starts using a different name - James Harriott. Biography claims that the author's first works did not have much success until the moment when they began to be published not just as individual stories, but as a whole book.

The first book about animals comes out in 1972. After her success in the United States, the film was shot based on her motives, which was very successful. For his work, James Harriott was awarded the Order of the British Empire, and received a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh.

Major works

During his life, James Harriott wrote a huge number of stories that are filled with love for animals. His works are collected in separate collections and series. The most famous books of the author:

• "About all creatures - large and small."
• "About all creatures - beautiful and intelligent."
• "On all creatures - wise and amazing."
• "And they are all creatures of nature."
• "Dog stories".
• "Cat stories".
• "Among the Yorkshire Hills", etc.

Books became the basis for the film, as well as the popular British television series, which numbered almost 100 episodes.

The basis of the plot for stories

James Harriott built his books in the form of short stories and memories of various funny, and sometimes sad episodes that happen in the practice of a veterinarian. According to critics, despite fairly simple stories and stories, the very attitude of the author not only to animals, but also to their owners, is conveyed very subtly. Sometimes it is full of lyrics and sadness, and sometimes sarcasm and humor, but it is always human.

Stories describe work that does not have any working hours or days off. Regardless of mood, weather and various circumstances, a veterinarian must do his job, using not only his specialist skills, but also savvy and imagination. Despite the fact that the stories are primarily about animals, they also describe people. To do this, the author uses an original set of characters from different social strata, whose life is connected with their favorites.

Problems of works

James's stories are an illustration of the complex work of a rural veterinarian. Despite the artistic style, there are professional terms and interesting episodes in the texts that are useful for veterinarians (reviews confirm this).

The author also very accurately depicts the social situation in England in the 1930s-a time when unemployment everywhere was flourishing, and even experienced specialists were finding it difficult to find a place. The role of nature is also important. Even if the author uses one or two sentences for this, readers can feel the author's warmth and love for rural life, native land and a magnificent green landscape, warmed by the sun.

In books, a veterinarian is portrayed by some psychologist who can understand and help not only the animals, but also their masters. Among them are simple workers and farmers who share the latter with their favorites, as well as rich people who try to compensate their pain and broken hearts with love for animals.

Famous quotes of the author

Kindness, love, care and understanding are the basis of the books James Harriot wrote. Quotations from his books became common names and were repeatedly used and used in films, books, etc. The most famous of them:

• "When you give your heart, you become so defenseless."
• "If the soul is to know how to love, be faithful and thankful, then animals have a soul more than many people."
• "Truth that should be a consolation for all dog owners: the short life of a pet does not mean the eternal pain of loss - emptiness will fill with time, and wonderful memories will be preserved forever."
• "If we lose, then there is something to lose."
• "Animals are unpredictable, which means that our life with you is also unpredictable"

In all his quotes there is a deep love for animals, as well as a clear philosophy of life of the author.

This Harriott

In 1999, after the author's death, his son, Jim White, wrote a book about his father, "The Real James Harriott. Recollecting My Father ", which is filled with love and respect, and also shows the writer on the other side. For his book, Jim uses all of his father's records, as well as letters, photographs, manuscripts and, of course, personal memories.

In his book, James describes his father as a man who was 99% vet and only 1% writer. For him it was, rather, a hobby, which he often equated with hobby for gardening. Jim also recalls that the father greatly respected his colleagues, from whom he had learned a lot, as well as the people he had encountered in life. According to Jim, the biggest fear of James was that he was afraid in his stories to accidentally hit one of his friends, whom he partly used for his stories. That is why all real names in the works were replaced by pseudonyms, and the actions took place in fictional places.

Jim describes his father as an ordinary person who sometimes liked to have a drink after lunch, pooh, but always put the family in the first place, but the real joy for him was to give joy to others.

James Harriott is a unique writer known for his short stories about the work of a veterinarian. In his books the author shows his love for animals, people, and also perfectly illustrates his positive attitude to life in general.