Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean
I never saw Rin Tin Tin on the silver screen or on a television screen, yet I knew he was a famous German Shepherd. He’s part of American culture. And now he’s back in the minds of America because of Orlean’s new book.
Rinty, as his owner affectionately called him, was a foundling: an orphan pup found in a bombed out kennel in France during WWI. From these humble beginnings he became one of the most famous actors in the world and a beloved hero of multiple generations. Told in a factual and entertaining way Orlean follows Rinty’s life as other dogs take on the collar (so to speak) and become the new Rin Tin Tin. There is a lot of interesting background on how dogs fought alongside our soldiers in various wars as well as the evolution of the motion picture and television industries. More than just a book about a dog, this is a book that would appeal to anyone enjoying a story about how a legend was born.
The Non-Fiction Book Discussion Group will be talking about Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend on Thursday, January 12th at 1pm. Register online if you would like to join in the discussion!
