Greyfriars Bobby by Elanor Atkinson

This book was published in 1912 by Eleanor Atkinson, and it was upon this version that the 1961 Walt Disney film called Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story was based. I have this film on DVD and it is available for borrowing by any student who reads the book. Considering that Atkinson had never been to Edinburgh, she captures the atmosphere of the city in the 1860s very well. Another book in the Little Library of Rescued Books, called The Story of Greyfriars Bobby by Forbes Macgregor, is a much more challenging read but gives a more accurate and more detailed history of both the city, and of the cemetery where the little dog was to spend most of his life. In the story the Skye terrier adores his master Auld Jock, and when the old man passes away, Bobby refuses to leave his grave in Greyfriars Cemetery in Edinburgh. During the day he spends time with the local orphans and eats at a local tavern, and despite concerted efforts by some of the city folk to have him evicted from the cemetery, he manages to faithfully return each night to sleep with his master. There is a small glossary at the back of the book to help readers with Scottish words such as fower (four), kirk (church), claes (clothes), deffle (devil) and so on...

The Story of Greyfrairs Bobby by Forbes Macgregor

This is quite a challenging read and tells the real story of Greyfriars Bobby. The book firstly gives a background into how the Greyfriars Church and cemetery evolved over the centuries. It then gives a clear and detailed description of what Old Edinburg would have been like when John Gray and Bobby were alive.

Old Endinburg was full of closers, courts and wynds like Hall's Court. About a hundred thousand people were packed into this crowded unhealthy town. It was like an enormous rabbit-warren, with dark passages leading from one burrow to another. Crimes were committed and some never discovered by policemen or detectives. But people caught breaking the law were severely punished.

Chapter three then introduces John Gray and his loyal and plucky little Skye terrier, and the story unfolds until the passing of Bobby.

The chapters in the book are as follows:

The Grey Friars

Old Edinburg in Bobby's Time

Enter Bobby, the Skye Terrier Puppy

Bobby is puzzled by Strange Happiness

A Sad Market Day for Wee Bobby

Bobby's Long Watch Begins

Bobby and the One O'clock Gun

Bobby is in Great Danger

Bobby is Now Famous

If this book is too hard going for students, they can always read the picturebook version which is also in the Little Library of Rescued Books, and/or watch the DVD I have purchased for use in the unit. Click on the link below to see the review of the picture book version.

http://littlelibraryofrescuedbooks.blogspot.com/2012/01/greyfriars-bobby-by-ruth-brown.html