Greyfriars Bobby: The Most Faithful Dog in the World

by Jan Bondeson

The true story of the most faithful dog in the world. No visitor to Edinburgh will miss the monument to Scotland's most famous dog, the little Skye terrier Greyfriars Bobby. This amazing dog, the most faithful in the world, kept vigil at his master's grave for fourteen long years, before expiring in 1872. Many children's books, and three successful films, have been inspired by the affecting story of this little dog, said to be the most inspiring tale of love and loyalty ever heard. Every summer, Bobby's statue is surrounded by tourists from all over the world, some of whom weep profusely when they hear dog's pathetic story. Although Greyfriars Bobby has been dead for nearly a century and a half, this extraordinary dog has yet to find his biographer. Much fiction has been based on the myth of the faithful Greyfriars Bobby, but no historian has taken care to investigate the authenticity of his story, and sift the facts from a century of exaggeration and legend. In this book, the true story of Greyfriars Bobby will finally be told for the first time, using original sources. Was Bobby really the canine paragon of virtue he has been presumed to be, or was he an unconscious impostor, taking advantage of the notions about extreme canine fidelity that were current at the time?

The Kindle Edition contains 100 illustrations

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Outside of his career in medicine, he has written several nonfiction books on a variety of topics, such as medical anomalies and unsolved murder mysteries.

Bondeson is the biographer of a predecessor of Jack the Ripper, the London Monster, who stabbed fifty women in the buttocks, of Edward 'the Boy' Jones, who stalked Queen Victoria and stole her underwear, and Greyfriars Bobby, a Scottish terrier who supposedly spent 14 years guarding his master's grave.

He is currently working as a senior lecturer and consultant rheumatologist at the Cardiff University School of Medicine.


(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who cannot love Bobby in any edition? The brave faithful heart of a little dog.

The story has a few versions.
Greyfriars Bobby was raised by John Grey, a night watchman for the Edinburgh Police Force, who raised the Skye Terrier as a companion during his lonely shifts. 

Bobby was always at Johns side until John passed away in 1858 of tuberculosis and was buried in the Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Bobby kept guard over Johns grave. Each night, Bobby would rest on John's grave for the next 14 years.

The little dog killed many of the rats that infested the graveyard and earned his keep.

In 1867 the lord provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers, who was also a director of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, paid for Bobby's licence and gave the dog a collar, now in the Museum of Edinburgh.

He was fed by the keeper of the Kirkyard along with many of the people who came to know of him.

Bobby died in January 1872 and was buried near John Grey. His marker can still be seen.

[Martin Moriarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The old legends of excessive canine loyalty had widespread sentimental appeal; in particular, the legend of the ‘Dog on the Master’s Grave’ can be found all over the world, in many different versions. It seems to have been a very appealing thought to the Victorians that dogs were capable of such intense affection, with the smug extension that the humans themselves were the deserving recipients of such sterling loyalty.”

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earlier this year, I read Eleanor Atkinson's fictionized version of the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the little dog that supposedly refused to leave the burial site of his companion/owner. But here, Jan Bondeson investigated the actual facts regarding the little dog, searching through local newspaper records for articles connected with Bobby.

Did he actually exist? Who was Auld Jock? Paintings and sketches of Bobby. Photos of the monument/fountain for humans and dogs near the Greyfriars cemetery. The legends and tales. The timetable that works in some places and doesn't in others. Quite a number of tales about cemetery dogs - who refused to leave their owner's grave or their attacked body - from early Greek through the Victorian period and even a couple of more modern pups.

In the end, Bondeson feels that there were actually two small dogs - not only due to the difference in appearance but the differences in personality. Very readable and certainly doesn't detract from the story written so long ago and various movies. And of course, we all know how loyal our canine pets can be. . . . or is it how much we have anthropomorphized their actions?

2022-269

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greatfriars Bobby is the most famous dog in Scotland. The author looks behind its mystery and how he became that icon. Many fine illustrations and hard research give you the definite picture of the story. What an interesting canine character! The author also talks about other legends of canine fidelity. Compelling book, not only for dog lovers and fans. Highly recommended!

[Susan Keady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine historical dog biography

I am a big fan of Eleanor Atkinson' s Greyfriars Bobby, but I enjoyed the context this book supplies. I didn't know about the popularity of the "cemetery dogs" and was delighted to learn that many strays were loved and fed because of this myth. I've loved several terriers and loyalty is not among their virtues. My dogs would be making new friends within minutes of my death!

[Andrew Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent well researched book. It's a factual book researching the real story. I don't want to say too much but no-one will come away disappointed in the true story.