James Bowen (author)

James Anthony Bowen (born 15 March 1979)[2] is an English author based in London. His memoirs A Street Cat Named Bob, The World According to Bob and A Gift from Bob, were international best-sellers. A film based on the first two books was released in 2016 and a sequel will be released in 2020. Bowen now dedicates his time to helping numerous charities that involve homelessness, literacy, and animal welfare.[3]

"A Street Cat Named Bob" redirects here. For the film adaptation of the book, see A Street Cat Named Bob (film).

James Bowen
James Bowen and Bob in February 2013
Born	James Anthony Bowen[1] (1979-03-15) 15 March 1979 Surrey, England
Occupation	Author, busker, activist, Musician
Residence	London, England
Nationality	British
Notable works	A Street Cat Named Bob The World According to Bob And Then Came Bob

Bob the Street Cat high-fives his official biographer James Bowen

Early life

Bowen was born in Surrey in March 1979. Following his parents’ divorce, three years later he moved to Australia with his mother. As they moved frequently, Bowen seldom made friends and was often bullied at school. He later dropped out of education in his second year of high school, becoming a self-confessed "tearaway kid"; he was later questionably diagnosed with ADHD, schizophrenia and manic depression.

In 1997, 17 years old, he returned to the United Kingdom to live with his half-sister and her husband in London. Tensions arose and the arrangement did not last. In time, he began sleeping on the streets. For the next few years, Bowen either slept in the streets or stayed in shelters, most of the time terrified of his surroundings. He began using heroin to deal with the pain from being homeless.

Meeting Bob

In spring 2007, Bowen was enrolled on a methadone programme, busking in Covent Garden, and living in a supported housing programme in Tottenham, London. One evening he returned home to find a ginger cat in the hallway of his building. Assuming it belonged to another resident, he simply returned to his flat. When the cat was still there the following day, and the day after that, Bowen became concerned and discovered the cat was wearing no collar or ID tag, was too thin, had a very unhealthy coat, scratches on its face and an infected wound on his leg. Bowen checked with other residents to see if the stray belonged to any of them, and when none of them claimed ownership of the animal Bowen decided to help the cat.

According to the account in A Street Cat Named Bob, Bowen took the cat to the nearby RSPCA clinic, which provided antibiotics to treat the infected wound (which he barely could afford). To make sure the cat received the full two-week course of medication, Bowen took him in for a time, while he continued to look for the stray's owner. When he couldn't find any information, he released the cat back on to the street, hoping he'd find his own way home. Instead, the cat began to follow Bowen around, even following him onto the bus when he left to go busking. Concerned that the cat had nowhere else to go, Bowen took him in permanently, naming him Bob after the character Killer BOB from the television drama Twin Peaks.[4]

Since Bob constantly followed James when he was going to work, he got him a harness for safety and allowed him to come along to his regular spots in Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus, travelling in the window seat of the number 73 bus. The public reaction was positive and the pair became famous, their visibility increasing still further when Bowen began selling The Big Issue. The public began uploading videos of Bowen and Bob to YouTube, and tourists would visit Covent Garden to see them. During this time, Bowen decided to conclude his methadone treatment. He credits this development to Bob, saying "I believe it came down to this little man. He came and asked me for help, and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body. He is what I wake up for every day now. He’s definitely given me the right direction to live my life."[5]

Bob was kept as an indoor cat in his later life, occasionally being walked in his harness in a local park by James. A purpose-built catio was commissioned by James to allow Bob secure access to their garden.[6] On Saturday 13th June 2020, Bob was fed in the kitchen of their home in Surrey and last seen at 11pm, before James noticed he was missing half an hour later.[7] On Monday 15th June 2020, two days after going missing, Bob was found dead at the side of a road around half a mile from his home. The cause of death was determined to be haematoma from a head-on collision with a car, the driver of which remains unknown.[8] He was thought to be aged at least 14 to 15 years old.

Earlier in 2020, Bob had finished filming his scenes for "A Gift from Bob"[9] , the sequel to the 2016 film adaptation.

Books

A number of books have been published about Bowen and Bob.

A Street Cat Named Bob

See also: A Street Cat Named Bob (film)

Bowen and Bob's public appearances attracted the attention of the Islington Tribune, which first published his story in September 2010.[10] This was read by Mary Pachnos, the literary agent responsible for the UK rights to John Grogan's Marley and Me, who introduced Bowen to the writer Garry Jenkins. The pair produced an outline for a book which Pachnos used to secure a book deal with the publishers Hodder & Stoughton. Since its publication the book has sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone,[11] has been translated into 30 languages, and spent over 76 weeks at the top of The Sunday Times' bestseller list in both its hardback and paperback editions.[12] A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life was published in the US on 30 July 2013, and entered The New York Times' best-seller list at No 7.[13] A film of the same name was released in late 2016, starring Luke Treadaway as Bowen, and with several cats, including the real Bob, playing the part of the cat.

The World According to Bob

The World According to Bob continues the story of Bowen and Bob's lives on the street, including the period leading up to their meeting with his agent Mary Pachnos. It was released on 4 July 2013 and was also a number one book on The Sunday Times' bestseller list.

Bob: No Ordinary Cat

Bob: No Ordinary Cat is a version of the book A Street Cat Named Bob re-written specifically for children. It was released on Valentine's Day 2013.

Where In The World Is Bob?

Where in The World Is Bob? is a picture book in which readers have to spot Bob, James and assorted other items in scenes around the world. It mirrors Bob's travels in a blog, Around the World In 80 Bobs, where fans of the book take photographs of the famous cat at various locations around the world.[14] It was published in October 2013.

My Name Is Bob

My Name is Bob is a picture book for young children, written by Bowen with Garry Jenkins and illustrated by Gerald Kelley, published by Random House in the UK in April 2014. It imagines Bob's life prior to him meeting Bowen.

For the Love of Bob

For the Love of Bob is a children's version of The World According to Bob and the sequel to Bob: No Ordinary Cat. It was released on 3 July 2014.

A Gift from Bob

"A Gift from Bob" is a short story about Bowen and Bob's final Christmas on the streets together. According to publishers Hodder & Stoughton, the book reveals "how Bob helped James through one of his toughest times — providing strength, friendship and inspiration but also teaching him important lessons about the true meaning of Christmas along the way." It was published on 9 October 2014, and reached No. 8 on the Sunday Times' best-seller list. In October 2019, it was announced that a film adaptation of the book, directed by Charles Martin Smith and written by Garry Jenkins, would be going into production in late 2019 with a view to a cinema release in 2020.[15]

Bob to the Rescue

Bob to the Rescue is a second children's picture book, written again with Garry Jenkins and illustrated by Gerald Kelley. It was published by Random House in September 2014.

The Little Book of Bob

The Little Book of Bob: Life Lessons from a Street-Wise Cat collects together pieces of wisdom Bowen has accumulated during his years sharing his life with his 'streetwise' cat. It was published by Hodder & Stoughton on 1 November 2018.

Music

In addition to his books, James Bowen has released music regarding his story and relationship with Bob. The charity singles And Then Came Bob[16][17] and Time To Move On[18][19] were released by Macaerri Music in 2018. Both tracks were mixed and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London.[20][21]

The track And Then Came Bob was co-written with the songwriting trio of Roger Ferris, Glo Macari and Dominic Ferris[22], and Time To Move On was co-written with fellow busker Henry Facey and musician/musical arranger Dominic Ferris.[23][24]

Ferris also featured in and produced both tracks, and can be seen producing and mixing the track with Bob playing on the audio desk.[25][20]

Both singles were launched at a ticketed live event in November 2018 at Phoenix Gardens in Covent Garden, where Bowen was accompanied by Dominic Ferris & Henry Facey.[26][27]

Profits from the singles were donated to The Big Issue Foundation, supporting homeless people across the UK.[27][21] Bowen and his team made a bid to get And Then Came Bob to a UK Christmas #1 in 2018.[28][29]

Film adaptation

Main article: A Street Cat Named Bob (film)

A film was optioned by London-based Shooting Script Films, and its producer Adam Rolston, in March 2014.[11] In August 2015, Variety announced that Luke Treadaway was to star in the film, and that Roger Spottiswoode was to direct, with shooting in London to begin in October.[30] During production, it was revealed that Bob played himself in the vast majority of the film's scenes.[31] The film was released in the UK in November 2016.[32]

Awards

A Street Cat Named Bob was nominated for the UK's National Book Awards in the Popular Non-Fiction category in November, 2012.[33] In March 2014, A Street Cat Named Bob was listed at No. 7 on a list of the most inspiring teenage books as part of a poll for World Book Day.[34]

References

1. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007
2. "About Street Cat Bob". Facebook. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
3. Kanczula, Antonia (15 March 2012). "Bob the cat's star turn". Islington Now.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
4. Gomersall, Wendy (30 November 2011). "Saved by a cat called Bob". The Lady. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
5. Godwin, Richard (20 March 2012). "Bob the busking cat". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
6. "StreetCat Bob & James Bowen Demo New Catio (Cat Enclosure) by ProtectaPet". YouTube. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
7. "Revealed: Street Cat Named Bob died after being hit by a car, says ex-heroin addict owner of Ginger Tom". whatsnew2day. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
8. "Ninth life over for James Bowen's Bob the cat, star of street and screen". The Times. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
9. "A Gift from Bob". IMDB. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
10. Gruner, Peter (24 September 2010). "Two cool cats... the Big Issue seller and a stray called Bob". Islington Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
11. Flood, Alison. "Bob the Street Cat books top 1m copies in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
12. Gruner, Peter (16 March 2012). "Read all about it: how Bob the stray cat became a bookshop star". Islington Tribune. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
13. Cowles, Gregory (9 August 2013). "Inside the list". New York Times.
14. grj. "Around The World In 80 Bobs". streetcatbob.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
15. "Charles Martin Smith to Direct 'A Street Cat Named Bob' Sequel". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
16. "And Then Came Bob (with The Wild & Stray)". Retrieved 23 March 2020 – via open.spotify.com.
17. "And Then Came Bob". Retrieved 23 March 2020 – via Amazon.
18. "Time to Move On (with The Wild & Stray)". Retrieved 23 March 2020 – via open.spotify.com.
19. "Time to Move On". Retrieved 23 March 2020 – via Amazon.
20. "YouTube: NEW MUSIC FROM JAMES BOWEN WITH THE WILD & STRAY - CHRISTMAS 2018!)". Retrieved 23 March 2020.
21. "YouTube: James Bowen - And Then Came Bob (Official Video)". Retrieved 23 March 2020.
22. "Copyright Registered for And Then Came Bob Owned by MISTER DOMINIC FERRIS - Copyright Registration n°DEP635279190831498750". copyright.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
23. "Bob The Streetcat Is In The Studio". London Live. London Live. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
24. "NEWS". www.henryfacey.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
25. Hammond, Elaine. "A Street Cat Named Bob review – so much kitty litter". Shoreham Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
26. "Henry Facey Events". www.henryfacey.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
27. "Buy tickets for An Evening with James Bowen author of 'A Streetcat Named Bob' at The Phoenix Garden, Fri 7 December 2018". www.tickettailor.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
28. Lobb, Adrian (3 December 2018). "Support Street Cat Bob and James Bowen's bid for Christmas number one". The Big Issue. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
29. Lobb, Adrian. "Support Street Cat Bob and James Bowen's bid for Christmas number one". Yours Magazine. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
30. McNary, Dave (24 August 2015). "Luke Treadway in 'A Street Cat Named Bob' Movie: Actor to Star in Film". Variety. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
31. "Street cat Bob to star in movie". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
32. McCahill, Mike. "A Street Cat Named Bob review – so much kitty litter". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
33. "A Stellar line-up competes for this year's Specsavers National Book Awards". National Book Awards 2014. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
34. Williams, Imogen Russell (6 March 2014). "World Book Day: The 10 best teen reads". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2015.

External links

• James Bowen on Twitter
• James Bowen on Facebook