I was entirely wrong! This is one of those happy instances where the movie is a faithful adaptation, but the book is even better, simply because there's more of it-a little more depth to the characters, more backstory, more incidents that just didn't fit into a screenplay. I had previously enjoyed the charming 1961 Disney film adaptation of Greyfriars Bobby, and for some reason, I don't know why, I had the notion that the source novel would be a bit dry and dusty. I was delighted to find Greyfriars Bobby is now available on kindle, free of charge. A short glossary at the back, explains the occasional Gaelic words which pepper the text. Tourists also tend to visit the graves, as Greyfriars Bobby was buried near to his much-loved owner in 1872.Īlthough my Puffin book said it was “written for grown-ups but suitable for children between 8 and 12”, it is the sort of timeless story which can be enjoyed by all ages. The story continues to be well known in Scotland, and there is a prominent statue in Edinburgh to commemorate this very special Skye Terrier: There is also a more recent film from 2006.
I first saw the older film of this from 1961 on television, and enjoyed it so much that I tracked Eleanor Atkinson's book down. After John Gray died, Greyfriars Bobby watched over his grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard, for the next 14 years, right until the day the dog himself died. Greyfriars Bobby is a famous little dog, who became known for his loyalty to John Gray, a night watchman for the Edinburgh City Police in the 19th century. And as the years go by, the little dog's loyalty is rewarded in a very special way.This is a lovely story from 1912, based on fact, about a Skye Terrier. The farmer tries to reclaim Bobby as a pet for his daughter but the little dog remains faithful only to Auld Jock, guarding his master's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard in the heart of Edinburgh's old town.īy day, he plays with the local orphans and eats at a nearby tavern but, in spite of anything even the Lord Provost himself can do, Bobby returns each night to sleep by his master.īobby's devotion changes the lives of those around him and ultimately the conditions of the poor in Edinburgh. When Jock is dismissed by the farmer he tries to find work in the city, but sinks into poverty and dies, having suffered one cold winter too many. The famous classic Scottish tale based on the true story of a dog's lifetime devotion to his master, first published in 1912, loved and widely read the world over.īobby, a sparky silver-haired Skye terrier, adopts lonely shepherd Auld Jock, for his master and the two become inseparable.
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