Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean

He believed the dog was immortal. 

So begins Susan Orlean’s sweeping, powerfully moving story of Rin Tin Tin’s journey from orphaned puppy to movie star and international icon. From the moment in 1918 when Corporal Lee Duncan discovers Rin Tin Tin on a World War I battlefield, he recognizes something in the pup that he needs to share with the world. Rin Tin Tin’s improbable introduction to Hollywood leads to the dog’s first blockbuster film and over time, the many radio programs, movies, and television shows that follow. The canine hero’s legacy is cemented by Duncan and a small group of others who devote their lives to keeping him and his descendants alive. 

At its heart, Rin Tin Tin is a poignant exploration of the enduring bond between humans and animals. But it is also a richly textured history of twentieth-century entertainment and entrepreneurship and the changing role of dogs in the American family and society. Almost ten years in the making, Susan Orlean’s first original book since The Orchid Thief is a tour de force of history, human interest, and masterful storytelling—the ultimate must-read for anyone who loves great dogs or great yarns.


I won this ARC off of Goodreads! Thank you Simon & Schuester! 


I thought this book was great. I learned so much of the history of Rin Tin Tin and of World War I. I didn't know that they used animals the World Wars. They used dogs for medical attention, helping nurses, delivering cigars, and they even strapped bombs on the back of dogs and sent them out into the battlefield. I just loved learning things about Rin Tin Tin, like how he was born on the battlefield. I loved learning about his rise to fame and him on the big screen. This is a non-fiction novel and it's not what I usually read, but I'm so glad I did! I recommend it!


Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend:
Expected Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Format: Advanced Reader's Copy 
Publisher: Simon & Schuester
Average Rating So Far: 3.88 stars
Pages: 320 pages


Rating: 4/5 stars