Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean/Book Review

Susan Orlean (Author)
    Hardcover: 336 pages
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster
    (September 27, 2011)
    Language: English
    ISBN-10: 1439190135
    ISBN-13: 978-1439190135
    Biographies, Memoirs, Literature
Description
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.

Praise

“Rin Tin Tin was more than a dog. He embodied the core paradoxes of the American ideal: He was a loner who was also a faithful companion, a brave fighter who was also vulnerable. I was astonished to learn from this delightful book that he has existed for eleven generations over a century. By chronicling his amazing ups and downs, Susan Orlean has produced a hugely entertaining and unforgettable reading experience.” —Walter Isaacson, author of Benjamin Franklin and Einstein

“Not only does Susan Orlean give us a fascinating and big-hearted account of all the many incarnations of Rin Tin Tin, she shows us the ever-changing role of American dogs in times of war and peace. This book is for anyone who has ever had a dog or loved a dog or watched a dog on television or thought their dog could be a movie star. In short—everyone." —Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder and Bel Canto

“I adored this book. It weaves history, war, show business, humanity, wit, and grace into an incredible story about America, the human-animal bond, and the countless ways we would be lost without dogs by our sides, on our screens, and in our books. This is the story Susan Orlean was born to tell—it’s filled with amazing characters, reporting, and writing.” —Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Editorial Reviews

“Move over Seabiscuit, Rin Tin Tin will be the most-talked-about animal hero of the year and beyond. . . A spectacularly compelling portrait . . . Engrossing, dynamic, and affecting." —Booklist

“[Orlean] combines all her skills and passions in this astonishing story . . . A terrific dog’s tale that will make readers sit up and beg for more.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Stirring . . . A tale of passion and dedication overcoming adversity. . . . Even readers coming to Rin Tin Tin for the first time will find it difficult to refrain from joining Duncan in his hope that Rin Tin Tin’s legacy will ‘go on forever.’” —Publishers Weekly

Reader's Review
"Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend" is the story of the iconic German shepherd remembered by baby boomers as the star of a television series. In reality, though, Rinty's brush with fame started much earlier, in the silent film era just after World War I. Cpl. Lee Duncan found the pup, part of a litter who with their mom were struggling to survive near a French battlefield. He brought him back to the States after the war, and eventually, impressed with the dog's intelligence, got him a part in a silent film. That part led to a long series of films spotlighting the dog's feats of devotion and heroism. Rinty was the star -- the humans were just supporting players.
He later appeared in a few talkies before old age claimed him. There followed several other incarnations, all named Rin Tin Tin but with different temperaments and levels of intelligence.
This book is the story of the people in Rinty's life, starting with Duncan and proceeding through a quirky and sometimes poignant cast of dog lovers and fame-seekers. It's also a fascinating trip through the early film era in Hollywood, and later the years when television began to exert its hold on the American public. Rin Tin Tin was known around the world in the early to mid-20th century, but now he's mostly a footnote or an answer to a trivia question.
Author Susan Orlean spent years following Rinty's trail, sifting through memoirs and other clues and interviewing the few people still left who were part of the Rinty saga. This is a well-written book that kept my interest to the end.