Greyfriars Bobby

By Eleanor Atkinson

Book Overview

"Greyfriars Bobby" is a poignant and enduring classic that tells the legendary story of a small Skye Terrier whose unwavering loyalty captured the heart of Edinburgh. Based on a true historical account, the narrative follows Bobby, the devoted companion of a shepherd known as Auld Jock. After his master's death, the faithful dog refuses to be parted from him, spending the next fourteen years guarding Jock's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Set against the atmospheric backdrop of mid-19th century Scotland, the story explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and the profound bond between humans and animals. Eleanor Atkinson's evocative prose brings to life the cobblestone streets of old Edinburgh and the various local characters-from the compassionate groundskeeper to the city's children-who eventually come to cherish and protect the little dog. Bobby's steadfast presence becomes a symbol of devotion that transcends social boundaries and touches the entire community.

This moving tale remains one of the most beloved animal stories in literature, celebrating a legacy of fidelity that is still honored today. It is an essential read for animal lovers and readers of historical fiction seeking a story that captures the true spirit of devotion.

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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025336259
• ISBN13: 9781025336251
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Truth and Fiction

When his master, an aged shepherd, dies, his young devoted dog stays loyally by his grave in a center-city graveyard for fifteen years. He is sustained by an understanding restaurant owner and the tenement children who live near the church. He eventually attracts the attention and affection of most of Edinburgh, Scotland, and today a statue honoring him and the grave of his owner are major tourist attractions. Much of the story is based in fact with some liberties taken (the owner was an Edinburgh policeman, not a shepherd, for instance). It is a heartwarming tale of love and friendship. Simplified, it is a tale that would excite a child, but this is NOT a kid's book despite the fact that it has always been promoted as such. Much of it is bleak, and the Scottish dialect would have stopped me after a few pages when I was young. This particular edition is bare-bones and might be one of those "printed on demand" titles. No title page, poor division between chapters, no footnotes which would have helped with the translation of the dialect. Pure text for about 116 pages. The missing star is in the presentation, not in the telling. This is a classic and I certainly would recommend it but it is not an "easy read" for younger folk.

A TRUE STORY, A DOG STORY, A DISNEY MOVIE, A GRANDE BONNY BOOK

This is a wonderful dog story about a small terrier who is devoted to one old man, Old Jock. The dog picked his true master, but after the old shepherd's death, the dog, "Bobby", was the only true mourner. Bobby found a way to lay upon the man's grave every night for the remainder of the dog's life, inside a gated cemetery that allowed no dogs. It is a true account from the mid 1800s, although embellished a bit by this author for the sake of making it a childrens' classic book. A CLASSIC it is. The small dog, in real life, became known as "Greyfriars Bobby", the name of the book, as well as a Disney movie made from this author's account of the life of this famous Edinburgh canine. Not only is it a wonderful story of tenderness and devotion, but it is a beautifully written pictorial account of life in Victorian Edinburgh and the magnificent countryside of Scotland. It tells a story of loyalty and affection that can only be told by man's best friend. The author is an Indiana author known for her stories for youth but because of Walt Disney, and his recognizing the human interest in this historical dog plus bobby's inspiration, well...Disney put this version of the story of "Greyfriars Bobby" at the front of the pack. This classic is highly recommended as a gift for all readers, not just youth, as well as a must in every library. Perhaps every classroom should have a copy on both sides of the Atlantic. Read the book first--then get the Walt Disney DVD version.

Bide a wee

I don't know if it is possible to be too old to enjoy this book. It is written in the manner of Dickens' Christmas Carol with something of Oliver Twist thrown in. If you can read this story without shedding a tear or two, there must be something missing inside of you. The Scottish dialect is a wee bit of a struggle but the experience is more than worth the effort. Try not to read it too rapidly.

Greyfriars Bobby was great!

I am in 7th grade and read this book for a project. A friend suggested it to me and I was not sure I was going to like it. I read the first few pages and it started to draw me in.It shows a strong relationship between a man who dies and his old faithful companion.Great! I highly reccomend it for any age!

Greyfriars Bobby

I recently read the book, and it is one of the best dog stories that I have read. It shows the value of relationships between a dog and its master, and what it means to be a friend to a dog and to your neighbors.I would highly recommend it to anybody 8 years an up.