All Things Bright and Beautiful: The Warm and Joyful Memoirs of the World's Most Beloved Animal Doctor

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of substance use.

James Herriot is the first person narrator of All Things Bright and Beautiful and is the penname of the author, James Alfred Wight. The memoir is an account of Herriot’s personal experiences, and he writes from his own perspective. He describes the world of the Yorkshire Dales where he has his veterinary practice and presents his anecdotes in a novelistic manner, rendering his encounters with animals and humans alike as episodes in an ongoing fictional saga.

Herriot begins the memoir as a rural veterinarian in the fictional town of Darrowby, which is based on the English town of Thirsk. He lives on the upper story of Skeldale House (where the veterinary surgery is located) with his wife Helen, whom he has recently married. Herriot is employed by Siegfried Farnon, who is the country vet, and Siegfried’s brother Tristan Farnon is also part of the practice. The brothers welcome Herriot into their veterinary practice and also give him a footing in the Darrowby community. Herriot also builds close relationships with the Darrowby locals and farmers.