Alfred Ollivant — Bob Son of Battle

New York, Doubleday and McClure, 1899. Cloth. A good edition of this children's novel about two sheepdogs. 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 even though most of the dialogue in the book was written in the Cumbrian dialect. The story focuses on the rivalry between two sheepdogs and their masters, and chronicles the coming of age of a boy who is caught between them. David M'Adam, the boy, was half-orphaned by the death of his mother, and is left to the care of his father, Adam M'Adam, a sarcastic, angry alcoholic with a few redeeming qualities. M'Adam is the owner of 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. His master is James Moore, Master of Kenmuir, who acts as surrogate father to David. Moore is also the father of the girl David loves. The dogs compete for the Shepherd's Trophy, the prize in an annual sheep-herding contest which is the highlight of the year in the North Country. A dog who wins three competitions in a row wins the Shepherd's Cup outright, which has never yet happened. Complications arise -- a rogue dog is killing sheep, and both Bob and Red Wull are suspected of being the culprit. The story chronicles David's boyhood and early manhood, his struggle to live with his father, his frequent escapes to Kenmuir, and his on and off wooing of Maggie Moore. In a navy cloth binding. Externally sound. Some light rubbing and some wear to head and tail of spine. Front hinge strained, with free endpaper detached but present. Ex-Libris bookplate to front pastedown. Ink inscription to recto of front free-endpaper. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with some scattered light foxing to endpapers only. Good . Ill.: None. Good .