Owd Bob facts for kids
Title page of the first UK edition (1898)
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| Author | Alfred Ollivant |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
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Publication date
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1898 |
Owd Bob: The Grey Dog of Kenmuir is a classic children's book. It was also known as Bob, Son of Battle in the United States. The book was written by English author Alfred Ollivant. It came out in 1898 and quickly became very popular.
The story is set in the North Country of England. Much of the talking in the book uses the local Cumbrian dialect. The name "Owd Bob" means "Old Bob" in this dialect.
Contents
About the Story of Owd Bob
The book tells the exciting story of two sheepdogs. It also shows the rivalry between their owners. The main character is a young boy named David. He finds himself caught between these two strong personalities.
David's mother passes away, leaving him with his father, Adam M'Adam. His father is often angry and difficult. Adam owns a large, powerful dog named Red Wull. Red Wull herds sheep using his strength.
The other main dog is Bob, known as "son of Battle." Bob herds sheep with skill and cleverness. His owner is James Moore, the Master of Kenmuir. Mr. Moore becomes like a father figure to David. David also forms a friendship with Mr. Moore's daughter, Maggie.
The Shepherd's Trophy Competition
A big event in the North Country is the annual sheep-herding contest. The dogs compete for the Shepherd's Trophy. The ultimate prize is the Shepherd's Cup. A dog wins this cup forever if it wins three competitions in a row. No dog has ever achieved this before.
Mystery and Growing Up
The story gets more complicated when a wild dog starts killing sheep. Both Bob and Red Wull are suspected of being the culprit. David grows from a boy into a young man throughout the book. He struggles to live with his father. He often finds comfort and escape at Kenmuir. His friendship with Maggie Moore also grows during this time.
Owd Bob in Other Media
The popular story of Owd Bob has been adapted into different forms.
Films Based on Owd Bob
Several movies have been made from the book:
- Owd Bob (1924), made in the UK.
- Owd Bob (1938), another UK film.
- Thunder in the Valley (1947), an American movie.
- Owd Bob (1998), a film made by the UK and Canada together.
Comics Based on Owd Bob
The story also appeared in comic books:
- Bob, Son of Battle was a special issue. It was #729 in Dell Comics' series, Four Color Comics. Gaylord Du Bois wrote the adaptation. Mike Sekowsky drew the art.
