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Bob, Son of Battle
"Bob, Son of Battle" is a children's classic written by English author Alfred Ollivant. It was published in 1898, and went on to become a popular children's book both in the United Kingdom and the United States.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1898
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About the author
Alfred Ollivant
80 books5 followersAlfred Ollivant (1874–1927) was an English novelist best known for his children's classic Bob, Son of Battle. Ollivant also wrote about a dozen other novels ranging from small-scale cautionary tales to grand historical epics.
Alfred Ollivant was born in Nuthurst, Sussex, in 1874 and became an author after a horse-riding injury ending his brief military career. Bob, Son of Battle, his first novel, was published in 1898. Set in rural Cumbria, in northern England, the novel centers on a suspected sheepkilling collie Bob.
Even though most of the book's dialogue is written in the Cumbrian dialect, it gained a popular following in the United States. Ollivant even published a sequel, Danny, in 1902. He was also a short story contributor to The Atlantic Monthly and the Boston Evening Transcript. Alfred Ollivant died in London on January 19, 1927.
Alfred Ollivant was born in Nuthurst, Sussex, in 1874 and became an author after a horse-riding injury ending his brief military career. Bob, Son of Battle, his first novel, was published in 1898. Set in rural Cumbria, in northern England, the novel centers on a suspected sheepkilling collie Bob.
Even though most of the book's dialogue is written in the Cumbrian dialect, it gained a popular following in the United States. Ollivant even published a sequel, Danny, in 1902. He was also a short story contributor to The Atlantic Monthly and the Boston Evening Transcript. Alfred Ollivant died in London on January 19, 1927.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 18, 2021
Apr 14, 2am ~~ Review asap.
Apr 17, 1pm ~~ This book was first published in 1898 and according to the GR blurb "went on to become a popular children's book'.
Well, maybe children were a lot different in those years, because I cannot imagine any child being allowed to read this. You think it is a story about a dog, and to a degree it is. But the life of our Bob is actually secondary to the drama going on between David and his father. There is a lot of abuse here (not described in minute detail, but there all the same) and basically a descent into madness that gives the book a gloomy, dark, disturbing feel that I do not think a child should have to deal with. David's father takes over the story nearly completely. And he is definitely not a nice man. Neither is his dog Red Wull, who has a lifelong disagreement with Bob.
So as a child this book would have freaked me out completely, I imagine. But as an adult, it was a compelling if gruesome portrayal of a slice of life that few of us will ever truly understand. Tenant farmers and their canine partners, caring for their flocks of sheep in all types of weather, gathering daily at the one local pub in the tiny village, and being incredibly concerned with which dog will win at the yearly Sheep Trials.
We meet nearly everyone in the very first chapter. The farm workers at Mister Moore's small holding, the Mister himself and a young Bob, a gray collie who has not yet learned just what his real job is. David from the neighboring farm, and Mrs. Moore, who asks David "Did yo' feyther beat yo' last night?” Imagine the need to even ask such a question!
I was a little concerned when I saw that there would be dialect involved, but it was not too hard to understand, not like in some other books I gave up on. In this book the dialect helped me get myself into the setting of the story. It reads fast and is very exciting at times, even with the focus being away from the dog so much of the time. The description of one of the annual Sheep Trials towards the end was truly awesome. Have you ever watched a spelling bee and could barely stand it as each person stood up to spell their words? That was how I felt during that Sheep Trial. I almost forgot to breathe!
One other detail that surprised me was also towards the end, when after an entire book's worth of despising David's father and his dog, I actually shed a tear for them both. I dare anyone to get to that point in the story and NOT get teary.
So while I would never recommend this book for young children it was a masterfully written story that my adult self will never forget.
Apr 17, 1pm ~~ This book was first published in 1898 and according to the GR blurb "went on to become a popular children's book'.
Well, maybe children were a lot different in those years, because I cannot imagine any child being allowed to read this. You think it is a story about a dog, and to a degree it is. But the life of our Bob is actually secondary to the drama going on between David and his father. There is a lot of abuse here (not described in minute detail, but there all the same) and basically a descent into madness that gives the book a gloomy, dark, disturbing feel that I do not think a child should have to deal with. David's father takes over the story nearly completely. And he is definitely not a nice man. Neither is his dog Red Wull, who has a lifelong disagreement with Bob.
So as a child this book would have freaked me out completely, I imagine. But as an adult, it was a compelling if gruesome portrayal of a slice of life that few of us will ever truly understand. Tenant farmers and their canine partners, caring for their flocks of sheep in all types of weather, gathering daily at the one local pub in the tiny village, and being incredibly concerned with which dog will win at the yearly Sheep Trials.
We meet nearly everyone in the very first chapter. The farm workers at Mister Moore's small holding, the Mister himself and a young Bob, a gray collie who has not yet learned just what his real job is. David from the neighboring farm, and Mrs. Moore, who asks David "Did yo' feyther beat yo' last night?” Imagine the need to even ask such a question!
I was a little concerned when I saw that there would be dialect involved, but it was not too hard to understand, not like in some other books I gave up on. In this book the dialect helped me get myself into the setting of the story. It reads fast and is very exciting at times, even with the focus being away from the dog so much of the time. The description of one of the annual Sheep Trials towards the end was truly awesome. Have you ever watched a spelling bee and could barely stand it as each person stood up to spell their words? That was how I felt during that Sheep Trial. I almost forgot to breathe!
One other detail that surprised me was also towards the end, when after an entire book's worth of despising David's father and his dog, I actually shed a tear for them both. I dare anyone to get to that point in the story and NOT get teary.
So while I would never recommend this book for young children it was a masterfully written story that my adult self will never forget.
July 12, 2022
Bob, Son of Battle, as it was labeled in the US, and as Owd Bob: The Grey Dog of Kenmuir in the UK was written as a Children's book in 1898.
I debated on whether to count this among my top favorite books on dogs. It has the criteria to be there, I loved the book, wouldn't mind reading it again, had passages or excerpts I wanted to save in my list of quotes, and had awesome or laugh out loud moments. There are some other things about this book that would not make it people's favorites, but oh well, it is my list of favorites and I can list the good and the bad for people to sort out, as well of course as people can compare what others think as well.
I am not one to give a summary of the book, the summary for the book and others can give you that. In short it is two sheep ranch farmers in rivalry with each other each with a faithful and notable dog between them. One dog is Red Wull, a huge, violent dog who herds his sheep by brute force. The other dog is Bob, son of Battle, he herds sheep by finesse and persuasion.
The book is very melodramatic. Some may not like that, but to me, that was the fun. For things to be larger than life, and suffering and abuse to be loud and bitter.
I think the cumbrian dialect was understandable and added to the feel of the book. Some may not like working through it.
The book has some pretty gory parts to it. I can't imagine reading it to a child. In reality, a child at one age can just pass through something, and then at a different age, you could wind up giving someone a phobia for life, or at least nightmares for a while. To me, to have drama you have both the lows and the highs to make the arc of the story. I'd be very careful reading it to a child, or maybe turn parts more PG rated when reading to one.
The behavior of the dogs was not always realistic, certainly not in what seemed to be the situation with one big mystery, but I can just go along with it to enjoy the story.
The villain and his faithful dog makes the book. He is despicable with his abuse and tyrants, but the love of a good dog can soften the way we see a person. The depth and degree of abuse by the villain is another reason some would reduce the number of stars handed out. I get that, not only did it go on long, it found ways to be ratcheted up even more as it went. Probably another reason why it may not be suitable to today's children. I think I mentioned that it was very melodramatic.
I posted some quotes from the book into GR, but here are two to display some of the points above:
“And all through that night of age-long agony the gray figure stood, still as a statue, at the foot of the stairs. Only, when, with the first chill breath of the morning, a dry, quick-quenched sob of a strong man sorrowing for the helpmeet of a score of years, and a tiny cry of a new-born child wailing because its mother was not, came down to his ears, the Gray Watchman dropped his head upon his bosom, and, with a little whimpering note, crept back to his blanket.”
“In my life I’ve had three friends. Ma mither – and she went; then ma wife” – he gave a great swallow – “and she’s awa’; and I may say they’re the only two human bein’s as ha’ lived on God’s earth in ma time tha iver tied to bear wi me; and Wullie. A man’s mither – a man’s wife – a man’s dog! It’s aften a’ he has in this warld; and the more he prizes them the more like they are to be took from him.” The little earnest voice shook, and the dim eyes puckered and filled.”
For those who read the book, I leave with 'Wullie, Wullie, to me..."
I debated on whether to count this among my top favorite books on dogs. It has the criteria to be there, I loved the book, wouldn't mind reading it again, had passages or excerpts I wanted to save in my list of quotes, and had awesome or laugh out loud moments. There are some other things about this book that would not make it people's favorites, but oh well, it is my list of favorites and I can list the good and the bad for people to sort out, as well of course as people can compare what others think as well.
I am not one to give a summary of the book, the summary for the book and others can give you that. In short it is two sheep ranch farmers in rivalry with each other each with a faithful and notable dog between them. One dog is Red Wull, a huge, violent dog who herds his sheep by brute force. The other dog is Bob, son of Battle, he herds sheep by finesse and persuasion.
The book is very melodramatic. Some may not like that, but to me, that was the fun. For things to be larger than life, and suffering and abuse to be loud and bitter.
I think the cumbrian dialect was understandable and added to the feel of the book. Some may not like working through it.
The book has some pretty gory parts to it. I can't imagine reading it to a child. In reality, a child at one age can just pass through something, and then at a different age, you could wind up giving someone a phobia for life, or at least nightmares for a while. To me, to have drama you have both the lows and the highs to make the arc of the story. I'd be very careful reading it to a child, or maybe turn parts more PG rated when reading to one.
The behavior of the dogs was not always realistic, certainly not in what seemed to be the situation with one big mystery, but I can just go along with it to enjoy the story.
The villain and his faithful dog makes the book. He is despicable with his abuse and tyrants, but the love of a good dog can soften the way we see a person. The depth and degree of abuse by the villain is another reason some would reduce the number of stars handed out. I get that, not only did it go on long, it found ways to be ratcheted up even more as it went. Probably another reason why it may not be suitable to today's children. I think I mentioned that it was very melodramatic.
I posted some quotes from the book into GR, but here are two to display some of the points above:
“And all through that night of age-long agony the gray figure stood, still as a statue, at the foot of the stairs. Only, when, with the first chill breath of the morning, a dry, quick-quenched sob of a strong man sorrowing for the helpmeet of a score of years, and a tiny cry of a new-born child wailing because its mother was not, came down to his ears, the Gray Watchman dropped his head upon his bosom, and, with a little whimpering note, crept back to his blanket.”
“In my life I’ve had three friends. Ma mither – and she went; then ma wife” – he gave a great swallow – “and she’s awa’; and I may say they’re the only two human bein’s as ha’ lived on God’s earth in ma time tha iver tied to bear wi me; and Wullie. A man’s mither – a man’s wife – a man’s dog! It’s aften a’ he has in this warld; and the more he prizes them the more like they are to be took from him.” The little earnest voice shook, and the dim eyes puckered and filled.”
For those who read the book, I leave with 'Wullie, Wullie, to me..."
August 12, 2017
Bob, Son of Battle, was my first experience in reading about a "sympathetic villain," and even now, decades later, the scenes involving Adam McAdam and his Red Wull still resonate strongly in my head. Not really a children's novel...lots of depth for a novel involving shepherds and sheepdogs.
August 14, 2012
The extremely-- no, EXTREMELY gory and tragic story of an old Scotsman and his killer dog, Red Wull, which people inexplicably think is a nice rousing dog story for kids. Two feuding sheep farmers express their hatred and rivalry by entering their respective dogs in sheep-herding contests. It climaxes with a sort of Valentine Day Doggie Massacre, which must be read to be believed. I excerpt it below:
April 7, 2012
No matter what others may think of this book, it was the book that changed my whole world as a child when it came to reading. After reading it, I started to read more, and more, it was to me what Harry Potter was for my children's generation. Even with its Scottish dialects intact, the book took me far away and made want a dog. I have never been without one since.
October 10, 2014
Some say this was the first important novel about dogs and people. I read a lot of A.P.Terhune as a kid, but did not read Bob until adulthood, when I got it to read to young children. It's too gritty for that. Un-sentimental is the word, unsparing, bleak. This is the Dostoyevsky of dog stories.
January 8, 2024
This is a 2.5 for me, with the half star allocated to the talent of the writer. Otherwise, this was not for me for the following reasons:
1) Reading the accent is a pet peeve of mine if taken to the extreme that this is. I felt like I needed a companion decoder book for some of the dialogue.
2) This book is not about Bob, Son of Battle. It is about Adam M'Adam. In other words, mistitling is another pet peeve.
3) The relationship between David and Maggie initially mattered to me as a reader, but in retrospect, even ignoring my disgust with the misogyny at play, it was a romantic plot tumor. In point of fact, it felt very much as though Ollivant wrote himself into a corner with David and decided to simply wave it off rather than close the loop.
4) My first exposure to this tale was through the made for TV adaptation with James Cromwell (of Babe fame), and either they loved Cromwell too much to make him a villain, or they read the book and actually sympathized with M'Adam. In the latter case, I have concerns. Don't get me wrong; there are certainly junctures at which you can sympathize with or pity M'Adam. Anyone who loses a loved one deserves a little, and Ollivant even goes out of his way to laud M'Adam's virtues (chiefly, his work ethic and general respect for women and children, other than his own). However, there is no possible way of redeeming a child abuser. I bring this up as a complaint regarding the book because there are sections that strongly suggest M'Adam is in some way justified (the portion where David considers "for the first time" that he may not be a good son and the ending stand out in particular). I do realize I am bringing my modern lens to the situation, and that physical punishment was more acceptable in days past, so let me expand and say that there is also no redeeming M'Adam because, right to the end, he never fails to reject any opportunity for it. In this way, the tale is a tragedy. If that was the intent, it was well done, but it doesn't necessarily make for the most enjoyable read, particularly when it drags on as long as it does. Stories that continue to build on one theme (i.e., "and then, it was worse," rinse and repeat) without any kind of relief are exhausting for the reader.
1) Reading the accent is a pet peeve of mine if taken to the extreme that this is. I felt like I needed a companion decoder book for some of the dialogue.
2) This book is not about Bob, Son of Battle. It is about Adam M'Adam. In other words, mistitling is another pet peeve.
3) The relationship between David and Maggie initially mattered to me as a reader, but in retrospect, even ignoring my disgust with the misogyny at play, it was a romantic plot tumor. In point of fact, it felt very much as though Ollivant wrote himself into a corner with David and decided to simply wave it off rather than close the loop.
4) My first exposure to this tale was through the made for TV adaptation with James Cromwell (of Babe fame), and either they loved Cromwell too much to make him a villain, or they read the book and actually sympathized with M'Adam. In the latter case, I have concerns. Don't get me wrong; there are certainly junctures at which you can sympathize with or pity M'Adam. Anyone who loses a loved one deserves a little, and Ollivant even goes out of his way to laud M'Adam's virtues (chiefly, his work ethic and general respect for women and children, other than his own). However, there is no possible way of redeeming a child abuser. I bring this up as a complaint regarding the book because there are sections that strongly suggest M'Adam is in some way justified (the portion where David considers "for the first time" that he may not be a good son and the ending stand out in particular). I do realize I am bringing my modern lens to the situation, and that physical punishment was more acceptable in days past, so let me expand and say that there is also no redeeming M'Adam because, right to the end, he never fails to reject any opportunity for it. In this way, the tale is a tragedy. If that was the intent, it was well done, but it doesn't necessarily make for the most enjoyable read, particularly when it drags on as long as it does. Stories that continue to build on one theme (i.e., "and then, it was worse," rinse and repeat) without any kind of relief are exhausting for the reader.
September 6, 2014
I loved the original version when I was growing up, and I think it heavily influenced my later interest in herding breeds. Reading it now, though, I don't know what to think of it. On the one hand, it's stuffed with inaccuracies about dog interactions, reflects the sexist attitudes of its time, portrays the cavalier attitudes toward child abuse of its time, and the melodrama is through the roof. On the other hand, it still captures the reader, captures a lot of truth about the dog/human relationship, shows dogs in a working capacity which most of us don't get to see these days, and has a couple of scenes that will absolutely make you cry sloppily if you have any human feeling at all. Oh, and as for this being an update, Lydia Davis has done a FABULOUS job with it. She gets my full respect for all time.
Full confused and rambling review at: http://storytimehooligans.wordpress.c...
Full confused and rambling review at: http://storytimehooligans.wordpress.c...
August 8, 2022
I have an original OWD BOB: The Grey Dog of Kenmuir written in 1898. It was a bit of a struggle to understand the dialect. The book sheared through my soul. It is about Owd Bob and about a son and his father. I found it astounding that it was a best seller when first published and that children read the book. In the United States, it was edited and titled Bob, Son of Battle. I read the English version which has an additional chapter at the beginning of the book. A son and his father. A father bitter and angry reflected in his dog Wullie. He tried to reach out to his son and because of a simple misunderstanding, this was lost forever. The death of Wullie shocked me. Violent but in a Shakespearean manner. I read it once a year and find myself drifting into the lives of the characters in the book. Such pity I have for the father of the young son and the dog Wullie. The ending is poignant and bittersweet. I adore this book.
February 10, 2016
I can't imagine this book being published by anyone but NYRB. Thinking as a bookseller, this is one of those books that might struggle to find the right reader. It's not obvious to me that a lot of middle grade readers will eagerly pick up a book about shepherds and sheep dogs in 19th century England. And although the prose is clean and elegant (thanks to Lydia Davis's modernization), this book is closer to Hardy than to any of the middle grade I've seen come out in the last five (or thirty) years. Having said that, I'm comparing it to Thomas Hardy. The characters here are complex and interesting, and often frustrating in a way that makes them seem very real. I found the book gripping and beautiful, although harsh. So, if you're looking for an exceptional dog book for kids who are up for some textual (and moral) complexity, look no further.
June 15, 2013
It's been nearly fifty years, but I remember that I REALLY liked this book! I went through a dog phase in middle school when all the other girls went through a horse phase.
May 27, 2021
A compelling story, at least!
This book was described to me as the best dog story of all time. I agree, it was a pretty good yarn. Twists and turns to the very end. My one complaint, which is common to the reviews of the book that I read, is that the colloquial language, used by one of the main characters, and by several others, is sometimes difficult to decipher. As a result, the book took a little longer to read than I expected, but that just stretched out the enjoyment of the story itself.
The book was written about northern England sheep farms in the late Victorian era. I believe it was written in a contemporary time. The story traveled well. I can see something of the times, and setting, in the James Herriot stories, about English country life.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good tale, a very well-characterized villain, and is willing to invest some hard verbal detective work in the dialect. My thanks to Alfred Ollivant, for bringing the life and times, of Owd Bob o' Kenmuir, to me, for my reading pleasure.
This book was described to me as the best dog story of all time. I agree, it was a pretty good yarn. Twists and turns to the very end. My one complaint, which is common to the reviews of the book that I read, is that the colloquial language, used by one of the main characters, and by several others, is sometimes difficult to decipher. As a result, the book took a little longer to read than I expected, but that just stretched out the enjoyment of the story itself.
The book was written about northern England sheep farms in the late Victorian era. I believe it was written in a contemporary time. The story traveled well. I can see something of the times, and setting, in the James Herriot stories, about English country life.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good tale, a very well-characterized villain, and is willing to invest some hard verbal detective work in the dialect. My thanks to Alfred Ollivant, for bringing the life and times, of Owd Bob o' Kenmuir, to me, for my reading pleasure.
July 24, 2018
Combination of too tragic and too dialect-heavy for my taste.
April 30, 2021
I noticed this book at an Airbnb by the ocean- a 1988 edition, originally written in 1898 by English author Alfred Ollivant (1874-1927), discarded from a library in Aumsville, Oregon; a well-worn, beautifully illustrated, much-read copy. It was excellent but definitely not a young children's book. The starkness of the story of two sheepdogs and the bleakness of the life of one of them (and his master) matches my impression of the sometimes reality of life.
August 1, 2014
I'm not sure if I read this as a child or not but I'm reasonably sure I've seen one of the movie adaptations. Much of the book seemed familiar but more as if I'd watched it, not read it. For many years, this was a classic children's book but it's seen less use in recent years, at least here in the US. I suspect the setting and dialogue have a lot to do with that. Set in England's sheep country in the early 1900's, the accent and dialogue are thick in the original and it uses a lot of words no longer used. Davis took the original, 'translated' the dialogue into a more understandable one that still seems to ring true and also cleaned up some of Ollivant's vocabulary. This edition is far more accessible while staying true to the original.
The original:
"I've tholed mair fra him, wullie, than Adam M'adam ever thocht from ony man."
This version:
"I have endured more from him, wullie, than Adam Mcadam ever thought he would have to endure from any man."
The first is understandable, with some effort, while the latter is much easier.
Several times as I was reading, I had to remind myself that this was not based on a true story but a work of fiction. Yes, it felt that real. :) Ollivant and Davis refrain, for the most part, from anthropomorphizing the dogs, which contributed to the realistic feel. The story sucked me in from the first page and kept me reading. I didn't remember enough to know how it turned and I needed to know.
The story has an omniscient third person narrator but we also spend time in Adam McAdam's head; interestingly, we spend little time in the head of James Moore, the other main character. James is a decent human being, flawed but essentially good. Adam McAdam has some brief moments of kindness and decency but he's proud, hard, jealous, insecure, and has a vicious mean streak. One thing I didn't like, and in this the book is a reflection of its time, is the casual attitude towards child abuse. Just a heads up if that's a trigger for you. The story is as much, if not more, about the humans who own the dogs as it is the dogs themselves.
Maybe it's because we spend a fair amount of time in Adam's head, but I found his character was better developed than any of the others in the book. A nasty man, he has the occasional moment where I actually liked him or empathized with him. And then he'd be an a**hole again. I did root for his son David, who could also be a real dick wad but was basically a good person, and for James Moore, Bob's owner. The story occurs over about seven or eight years and we get a bird's eye of the rivalry between James and Adam and between Bob and Red Wull. The rivalry and hate are only exacerbated by a Romeo and Juliet-type romance and the deaths of many sheep by an unknown dog. Is the sheep killer Bob? Is it Red Wull? Another dog entirely? Everyone has an opinion and few are shy about vocalizing theirs.
"Bob, Son of Battle" is a thrilling, emotional, powerful story of love, hate, rivalry, and life in the Dales of England in the early 1900s. At times unsettling, it provides a peak at farming and oh, what a hard life that is! You can ignore that if you like and focus on the rivalry between the dogs or the one between the people or on the romance. There's something for everyone. I'd recommend this for ages 10 or so on up.
The original:
"I've tholed mair fra him, wullie, than Adam M'adam ever thocht from ony man."
This version:
"I have endured more from him, wullie, than Adam Mcadam ever thought he would have to endure from any man."
The first is understandable, with some effort, while the latter is much easier.
Several times as I was reading, I had to remind myself that this was not based on a true story but a work of fiction. Yes, it felt that real. :) Ollivant and Davis refrain, for the most part, from anthropomorphizing the dogs, which contributed to the realistic feel. The story sucked me in from the first page and kept me reading. I didn't remember enough to know how it turned and I needed to know.
The story has an omniscient third person narrator but we also spend time in Adam McAdam's head; interestingly, we spend little time in the head of James Moore, the other main character. James is a decent human being, flawed but essentially good. Adam McAdam has some brief moments of kindness and decency but he's proud, hard, jealous, insecure, and has a vicious mean streak. One thing I didn't like, and in this the book is a reflection of its time, is the casual attitude towards child abuse. Just a heads up if that's a trigger for you. The story is as much, if not more, about the humans who own the dogs as it is the dogs themselves.
Maybe it's because we spend a fair amount of time in Adam's head, but I found his character was better developed than any of the others in the book. A nasty man, he has the occasional moment where I actually liked him or empathized with him. And then he'd be an a**hole again. I did root for his son David, who could also be a real dick wad but was basically a good person, and for James Moore, Bob's owner. The story occurs over about seven or eight years and we get a bird's eye of the rivalry between James and Adam and between Bob and Red Wull. The rivalry and hate are only exacerbated by a Romeo and Juliet-type romance and the deaths of many sheep by an unknown dog. Is the sheep killer Bob? Is it Red Wull? Another dog entirely? Everyone has an opinion and few are shy about vocalizing theirs.
"Bob, Son of Battle" is a thrilling, emotional, powerful story of love, hate, rivalry, and life in the Dales of England in the early 1900s. At times unsettling, it provides a peak at farming and oh, what a hard life that is! You can ignore that if you like and focus on the rivalry between the dogs or the one between the people or on the romance. There's something for everyone. I'd recommend this for ages 10 or so on up.
November 4, 2014
This amazing story is one not to be missed. First published in 1898 it went on to become a classic in both the UK and the US. It is a story of good and evil and how good prevails. Two sheepdogs, totally different in looks, temperament, and purpose, vie for the Shepherd's trophy admids an ongoing feud from their owners where jealousy, hatred and covetous reign.
The storyteller extraordinare weaves a love-story, a heart-breaking and tragic relational story between a father and son, and a mysterious sub-plot to uncover the identity of the Black Killer who roams around at night viciously killing off the local sheep. The magnificent twists and turns will have you up late at night trying to figure out who the culprit is and why he is so elusive and cannot be apprehended. You are kept in suspense right up until the end as Ollivant shows his brilliance as a master storyteller over and over again throughout, luring you on deeper into the plot to find out the answers you are seeking.
Thanks to Lydia Davis and the New York Review Children's Collection for re-introducing this book into the public domain once again for future generations to enjoy. I myself had not read the book as child (or adult) so I was very fortunate to have had a chance to read one of the best books that I have read in a long, long time. I highly recommend it.
The storyteller extraordinare weaves a love-story, a heart-breaking and tragic relational story between a father and son, and a mysterious sub-plot to uncover the identity of the Black Killer who roams around at night viciously killing off the local sheep. The magnificent twists and turns will have you up late at night trying to figure out who the culprit is and why he is so elusive and cannot be apprehended. You are kept in suspense right up until the end as Ollivant shows his brilliance as a master storyteller over and over again throughout, luring you on deeper into the plot to find out the answers you are seeking.
Thanks to Lydia Davis and the New York Review Children's Collection for re-introducing this book into the public domain once again for future generations to enjoy. I myself had not read the book as child (or adult) so I was very fortunate to have had a chance to read one of the best books that I have read in a long, long time. I highly recommend it.
April 24, 2010
I first read this book when I was around 10, it was part of a gift set I received from my grandpa (Reader's Digest Classics for kids). I LOVED that set, it was one of the best presents I ever got! I'd get a new book every other month that contained all the classics - Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, all the greats!
I have re-read this book at least 10 times over the course of my life, and it's still just as great as ever! It's out of print now, so kind of hard to find - check the library!
I have re-read this book at least 10 times over the course of my life, and it's still just as great as ever! It's out of print now, so kind of hard to find - check the library!
September 7, 2021
My ALL TIME FAVORITE book. I first read this when I was 10 or 11 and home sick. My mom brought home a stack of books from the used book store. I have since worn out that old paperback in rereads and had to find a hard back copy in an antique shop. This is a true classic of good and evil and how the lines between the two can be blurred. Sometimes the old English dialect can be difficult to understand, but this story is well worth the difficulty. A wonderful story for lovers of animal stories and lovers of great literature, both. I highly recommend this book!
May 24, 2014
I can't recommend this as a children's book. The writing is incomprehensible at times not just because of the dialect. I actually felt badly for the antagonist through out the book. The old crank had miserable things happen to him and was poorly treated by his neighbours. It wasn't a dog story exactly or the story of a human tragedy but some odd combination of the two.
February 16, 2021
A classic that can be read over and over.
March 28, 2022
I actually read the new "version" by Lydia Davis. Davis, an author and translator, loved this book as a child but felt that a book written in 1880 and set in a remote, punishing and forbidding sheep farming area was inaccessible for children, especially American kids. She rewrote it, trying top stay as true to the original as possible while still modernizing the vocabulary.
I loved everything about this project. I had never heard of the book and would never have learned of it had I not picked up Davis's recent collection of essays where she talks of the challenges, decisions and rewards of translating novels in general and of creating a new version, as opposed to a translation, of this book. This is almost a gloss or annotated text of the original and it was like joining and pulling apart the original by Ollivant and the new version by Davis and reading them layered on each other.
I was surprised that this book was/is considered a children's/young adult book. Not only is there brutality between the animals, which we would expect, but also verbal brutality among several of the characters. In particular there is a father-son relationship which is marked by both physical and verbal abuse. It was tough to take.
I also loved getting a glimpse into life in the late 19th century in a harsh and often lonely border area between Scotland and England. The farmers and their families were forced to depend on themselves and each other and forced to live together and accept each other. No police to sort out problems and complaints, no mayor or city council. It really gave me a new slant on the imperative to get along and make things work. And isn't getting a new slant on your life the reason why we read?
I loved everything about this project. I had never heard of the book and would never have learned of it had I not picked up Davis's recent collection of essays where she talks of the challenges, decisions and rewards of translating novels in general and of creating a new version, as opposed to a translation, of this book. This is almost a gloss or annotated text of the original and it was like joining and pulling apart the original by Ollivant and the new version by Davis and reading them layered on each other.
I was surprised that this book was/is considered a children's/young adult book. Not only is there brutality between the animals, which we would expect, but also verbal brutality among several of the characters. In particular there is a father-son relationship which is marked by both physical and verbal abuse. It was tough to take.
I also loved getting a glimpse into life in the late 19th century in a harsh and often lonely border area between Scotland and England. The farmers and their families were forced to depend on themselves and each other and forced to live together and accept each other. No police to sort out problems and complaints, no mayor or city council. It really gave me a new slant on the imperative to get along and make things work. And isn't getting a new slant on your life the reason why we read?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2022
Wikipedia states that this book, published in 1898, was a popular children’s book in both the US and UK. I feel that it is a good example of the changing styles of children’s books.
It’s a story of two farmers and their dogs. One farmer is upright and fair, loves his family and has a sheep dog named Owd Bob from a beloved line of sheep dogs. The second farmer has become twisted and bitter after the death of his wife. He abuses his son David horribly and even this second farmer’s dog Red Wull has a wicked bad temper.
David finds a measure of peace visiting the first farmer’s house. In this sanctuary, he falls in love with the daughter.
David’s father becomes more and more bitter. The dogs of the two farmers are pitted against each other in sheep dog trials over the course of several years; whichever wins the cup three years will retire it.
There is also a dog that is killing sheep grazing on the fells. This is an unpardonable dog-sin and the culprit must be destroyed. Both dogs have been seen near killed sheep.
In addition to the issues of abuse and the strong morality tale, the dialect is written in Cumbrian which is a challenge for a modern adult, much less a child. ” "But I'll mak' it up to him--mak' it up to him and muir. I'll humble masel afore him, and that'll be bitter enough. And I'll be father and mither baith to him. But there's none to help me; and it's bin siar wi'oot ye. And--but lassie I'm wearyin' for ye." p 77
I would only recommend this book if you are interested in reading a period piece.
It’s a story of two farmers and their dogs. One farmer is upright and fair, loves his family and has a sheep dog named Owd Bob from a beloved line of sheep dogs. The second farmer has become twisted and bitter after the death of his wife. He abuses his son David horribly and even this second farmer’s dog Red Wull has a wicked bad temper.
David finds a measure of peace visiting the first farmer’s house. In this sanctuary, he falls in love with the daughter.
David’s father becomes more and more bitter. The dogs of the two farmers are pitted against each other in sheep dog trials over the course of several years; whichever wins the cup three years will retire it.
There is also a dog that is killing sheep grazing on the fells. This is an unpardonable dog-sin and the culprit must be destroyed. Both dogs have been seen near killed sheep.
In addition to the issues of abuse and the strong morality tale, the dialect is written in Cumbrian which is a challenge for a modern adult, much less a child. ” "But I'll mak' it up to him--mak' it up to him and muir. I'll humble masel afore him, and that'll be bitter enough. And I'll be father and mither baith to him. But there's none to help me; and it's bin siar wi'oot ye. And--but lassie I'm wearyin' for ye." p 77
I would only recommend this book if you are interested in reading a period piece.
May 27, 2019
This is a gripping read. But not a light one.
This book is listed as a children's classic, which is a little puzzling. I can easily imagine kids reading it because some of the major characters are dogs, but it is actually a rather difficult book from a thematic perspective. The main character is really the drunken, malicious Adam MacAdam, who is ostracized (not without reason) by the Dales community. The story centers on his poisonous relationships with his son David and with his neighbor James Moore (owner of Bob son of Battle), and on his positive (?) relationship with his vicious dog, Red Wullie. The author clearly has a good moral compass and gives one to James Moore and his daughter Maggie, but everyone else in the story has serious problems.
This book is listed as a children's classic, which is a little puzzling. I can easily imagine kids reading it because some of the major characters are dogs, but it is actually a rather difficult book from a thematic perspective. The main character is really the drunken, malicious Adam MacAdam, who is ostracized (not without reason) by the Dales community. The story centers on his poisonous relationships with his son David and with his neighbor James Moore (owner of Bob son of Battle), and on his positive (?) relationship with his vicious dog, Red Wullie. The author clearly has a good moral compass and gives one to James Moore and his daughter Maggie, but everyone else in the story has serious problems.
January 11, 2023
This is a fascinating book – both for its depiction of rural sheep-herding culture, and for its indelible portrayal of Adam M'Adam, who, though positioned as the novel's primary antagonist, is also the most vividly-drawn of all the characters, and in some ways the most sympathetic. The book has some melodramatic touches, and the movement of the story is somewhat erratic, but the world it presents is convincing and seductive, and M'Adam elevates it into realms of genuine tragedy. Memorable stuff.
September 15, 2024
I read this book when I was almost certainly too young to read it. We didn't have books in my home, but I loved to read. I read any book I could get my hands on, and this was one of them. I don't remember having any trouble with the Cambrian dialog. In some ways, that is unfortunate because it broke my heart. I remember sobbing for days after reading the book. If I had been older, I might have had a way to protect myself from the story. I am certainly an adult, but I still think it is the saddest and most heart rending book I have ever read.
October 19, 2018
I found my list of books that I read in 5th grade. This was the last one on the list and it was number 157. I've always been a reader but I don't read 157 books in less than 10 months anymore. Of course the books I read now are a little longer and somewhat harder although I read my first "adult" book when I was in 2nd grade- the autobiography of a man who had been my father's art teacher but became a lion tamer with Ringling Brothers.
December 25, 2021
I had nothing to do with writing this book, nor have I read it. How my name got attached to it is a mystery, but if there is a moderator for this review series they should remove my name as one of the authors. I am giving it a score about equal to what appears to be the average score, because I do not want to skew that average one way or the other. Howard Ferstler
November 14, 2021
An interesting read, with lots of eye dialect and topographical information about the north country. Also dogs, but not as much as you'd expect (or hope for, if you're a dog lover). I read the condensed version and that may have been what was left out.
November 23, 2018
Good book. I love that the good dog is still alive in the end. Not very realistic portrayal of dogs. But definitely worth the read. I love how timeless our love for dogs really is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2014
Bob, son of Battle, is the last of the gray dogs of Kenmuir. He lives with and herds sheep for his master, James Moore, and his family in the rural Cumbria district of northern England. Moore’s Scottish neighbor, Adam M’Adam of the Grange, considers himself Moore’s rival and even enemy. M’Adam’s dog Red Wull won the Shepherd’s Trophy one year, but Bob won it the next two years, and whoever wins it three years in a row gets to keep it. It doesn’t help that David M’Adam is sweet on Maggie Moore. Meanwhile, a mysterious “Black Killer,” whom everyone assumes must be a shepherd dog, is on the loose. M’Adam hints that he has proof that the sheep murdering dog is Bob. Is Bob really the killer? Who will win the Trophy? And what will happen to “Owd Bob”?
Alfred Ollivant (1874–1927), an English novelist, was born in Nuthurst, Sussex, England, in 1874 and became an author after a horse-riding injury ending his brief military career. Bob Son of Battle (complete title Owd Bob – Being the Story of Bob, Son of Battle, the Last of the Grey Dogs of Kenmuir), his first novel, was published in 1898. Even though most of the book’s dialogue is written in the Cumbrian dialect, it became a popular children’s book both in the United Kingdom and the United States and is considered a children’s classic. Ollivant even published a sequel, Danny, in 1902. Ollivant also wrote about a dozen other novels ranging from small-scale cautionary tales to grand historical epics. In addition, he was a short story contributor to The Atlantic Monthly and the Boston Evening Transcript prior to his death in London on January 19, 1927.
There are a few references to drinking beer, smoking tobacco, and gambling. The euphemistic “dang” appears, along with a few uses of “God” and “Lord” as exclamations, and a couple of times M’Adam says “d—n” (spelled exactly that way in my edition). However, it is basically a good story, and I liked it, though it may not be appropriate for smaller, more sensitive children, and some youngsters may have trouble with the dialect. For the latter, a newer version published by The New York Review Children’s Collection is available in which the challenging idioms of the original have been rendered into fluent and graceful English of our day by Lydia Davis. Personally, however, I generally prefer originals. The book is recommended by Laurie Bluedorn of Trivium Pursuit who said, “Have a box of Kleenex handy—this one will make you cry.” And Laurie’s son, Nathaniel Bluedorn, wrote in Hand that Rocks the Cradle: 400 Classic Books for Children, “My mother says this is the saddest book she ever read.”
Alfred Ollivant (1874–1927), an English novelist, was born in Nuthurst, Sussex, England, in 1874 and became an author after a horse-riding injury ending his brief military career. Bob Son of Battle (complete title Owd Bob – Being the Story of Bob, Son of Battle, the Last of the Grey Dogs of Kenmuir), his first novel, was published in 1898. Even though most of the book’s dialogue is written in the Cumbrian dialect, it became a popular children’s book both in the United Kingdom and the United States and is considered a children’s classic. Ollivant even published a sequel, Danny, in 1902. Ollivant also wrote about a dozen other novels ranging from small-scale cautionary tales to grand historical epics. In addition, he was a short story contributor to The Atlantic Monthly and the Boston Evening Transcript prior to his death in London on January 19, 1927.
There are a few references to drinking beer, smoking tobacco, and gambling. The euphemistic “dang” appears, along with a few uses of “God” and “Lord” as exclamations, and a couple of times M’Adam says “d—n” (spelled exactly that way in my edition). However, it is basically a good story, and I liked it, though it may not be appropriate for smaller, more sensitive children, and some youngsters may have trouble with the dialect. For the latter, a newer version published by The New York Review Children’s Collection is available in which the challenging idioms of the original have been rendered into fluent and graceful English of our day by Lydia Davis. Personally, however, I generally prefer originals. The book is recommended by Laurie Bluedorn of Trivium Pursuit who said, “Have a box of Kleenex handy—this one will make you cry.” And Laurie’s son, Nathaniel Bluedorn, wrote in Hand that Rocks the Cradle: 400 Classic Books for Children, “My mother says this is the saddest book she ever read.”
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