Rin Tin Tin

The Life and the Legend

By: Susan Orlean

Narrated 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 20th-century entertainment and entrepreneurship and the changing role of dogs in the American family and society.

Almost 10 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-listen for anyone who loves great dogs or great yarns.

©2011 Susan Orlean (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic 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)

"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)

Loved it

A wonderful story that combines the history of film and television with the tale of Rin Tin Tin and his descendents. I thought it got a little slow toward the end, but otherwise, I couldn't put it down. I love dogs, but I don't think you need to be a dog-lover to enjoy this book.

Entertaining and provocative

Very accurately conveyed the passion and intricacies of screenwriting, storytelling, the emotional highs and lows of working tirelessly on behalf of stories you believe in, and the small miracles that emerge from living the storytelling craft that has been with us since the beginning of time.
Well done!

Needed a Real Narrator

Please save me from authors who think they will be the best narrators for their books. Susan Orlean is clearly a very good author but her nasal voice and flat delivery detracted from her writing and the story of this otherwise enjoyable book. I had to listen with a split mind since her voice drove me a bit batty. Please, Ms Orlean, stick to writing.

Good book about changes in American Society

I wasn’t going to review this book, until I noticed all of the downer reviews that it had gotten. First off, this is not a dramatic reading of a work of fiction… it is a nonfiction book about the legacy of a "dog", so I liked that the author was also the narrator and told her own story. Secondly, I actually listened to a half hour interview with the author before I picked up this book, so I gave it really high marks because it was exactly what she said it was; a book talking about the idea and legacy of a "dog" (there has been more than one Rin Tin Tin) and the people who have cared about "him." Normally I would not buy or listen to a biography about an animal so I cannot honestly say if it is a good work in that genera, but it does show the interesting changes in America, and in the film/TV industry. So, if you are interested in changes in society, and how people have viewed dogs in the 20th century this will be a good book for you. If you are interested in early film and tv, and the idea of "celebrity" you may want to take a look. If you want a warm fuzzy dog story, you might be disappointed.

Monotone narration.

Just because you can write the story doesn’t mean you can read it in an exciting fashion. The mediocre narration took away from the story for me.

Hire a narrator!

The story was compelling, but the narration was artless and dull. Even a long distance drive was better once I turned it off. I wish good authors would hire equally skilled narrators to bring their work to life!

An Endearing, Delightful Read

For once, I did not want to get to the end of a book. The author/narrator rendered a wonderful story about a dog I grew up watching on TV. So much research was presented with style and interesting language. Learning about the dog, his devoted owner, and the cartel of other characters that surrounded Rin Tin Tin in his many lives was fascinating. An artful documentary of a beloved creature!

Wonderfully Endearing.

I absolutely loved this book. Susan Orlean really summed up in a special way how Rin Tin Tin makes me feel. Capturing how the wonder dog embodied an American spirit and values that many of us ought to strive for in our lives. I am amazed at how much information the author was able to find and how involved she and her life has been in the creation of this book. I almost cried real tears when I finished reading this masterpiece. Thank you, Susan Orlean for your dedication to keeping the legend of Old Rin alive and well in the hearts and minds of your readers.

Great historical Rin Tin Tin

It was a great detailed historical book and perhaps too many details since it felt a bit long too me.

Different narrator would have made it better

Would you be willing to try another one of Susan Orlean’s performances?

I like Orlean's writing and the subject was great, but I totally agree with those who speak of her flat, nasal delivery. A different narrator would have done this book a world of good. It was a constant struggle for me to decide to wade through the book because of the great topic or chuck it because the narration was so irritating.