Greyfriar's Bobby

Greyfriar's Bobby is the wonderful tale of a dog who sat on his mster's grave for many years, becoming so well known that the Edinburgh authorities built a statue of him. The impressive part of this book is Eleanor Atkinson's magnificent depiction of Bobby's understanding. A master of the plausible, she has us believe Bobby can understand English (or rather Scottish) by the tone and the mentioning of names by the speaker. Bobby's actions are always totally in keeping with the actions of a very intelligent dog rather than the actions of a human. The reader is never left thinking "Are you sure?" with any of Bobby's antics but is more inclined to applaud. Another amazing fact of the story is Atkinson's very evocative depiction of Edinburgh in the 1860's, especially considering she had never been there. The language she uses for the characters seems very authentic, although it does require a little effort to understand it at times. Overall, Greyfriar's Bobby is an enchanting read on the devotion and initiative of a legendary little dog. Anyone with a dog, an interest in Auld Sotland or a need for a lift, will enjoy this truly wonderful book.