Rin Tin Tin

The Life and the Legend

By: Susan Orlean

Narrated by: Susan Orlean

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

"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)

Thorough & enjoyable read!

Thorough and enjoyable read. I also love Susan Orlean's narration. I definitely recommend it 😀

Not so legendary

If you are expecting a wonderful story about a dog, this isn't it. It's the bio of an antisocial man who loved dogs, followed by the people who made a dog story into a movie and television franchise. Rich in details, if you love Rin Tin Tin, it's everything you ever wanted to know and a lot more of what happened behind the curtain. It's not for those of us battling cynicism.

Performance was much better in movie 'Adaptation'

seriously, though, I don't mind Orlean's performance. True, she's not a pro, but there's nuance and wit to her reading.

This very detailed biography starts with a bang, but loses a bit of steam in the last third or so. I loved hearing about the origins of Rin Tin Tin, and I cried when (SPOILER ALERT, I guess) Rinty I dies.

Long parts were fascinating

The book was rather flat. It is clear Orlean is invested in the topic, but it was very draggy at times. The section on dogs in World War II was excellent. Compelling and interesting.

love dogs? love this story

beautiful language which befits the story. occasionally hard or confusing to follow characters as I listened

another Orlean winner

I love everything susan Orlean has ever written, and I especially love when she reads hew own work. It makes me feel right there with the author. If anyone else had written this book titled Rin tin tin, I probably would have taken a pass. But, seeing that Susan Orlean wrote the book, I was in. As with her other work, this book is finely researched and organized into very interesting chapters and then delivered in a very intriguing way. I enjoy the roll out of her story, and trusting her fine research, learn so much about a subject I knew nothing about. It’s a great listen, especially if you are a dog lover and a lover of old Hollywood films. Good job Susan O.

Animal Lovers, Must read.,

It’s important to understand how far we have come with animal rights & training techniques..
Mr. Duncan showed nothing but “positive reinforcement” training..
Maybe not using food, but using Rintys trained, motivational toy addiction - did the trick..
Many working dogs respond well to “tug toys, etc.”..
I always use food for motivation as “It Works”..
Ileen Green, CPDT-KA

Too Much is Too Much

What disappointed you about Rin Tin Tin?

There is way too much in here about the author and the people who breed Rin Tin Tin descendants.. To me it is like watching a TV show about hoarders. These people are obsessive, but that does not make them interesting.

What could Susan Orlean have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

If the author had been told to write the story with half the pages, the book surely would have been three times better. Information about the dogs that were in Hollywood was relevant and relatively important. I do not care why the author became obseessive about Rin Tin Tin - enough.

Any additional comments?

I only finsihed the book because we were discussing it at our book club, but it was painful.

Too Much is Too Much

What disappointed you about Rin Tin Tin?

There is way too much in here about the author and the people who breed Rin Tin Tin descendants.. To me it is like watching a TV show about hoarders. These people are obsessive, but that does not make them interesting.

What could Susan Orlean have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

If the author had been told to write the story with half the pages, the book surely would have been three times better. Information about the dogs that were in Hollywood was relevant and relatively important. I do not care why the author became obseessive about Rin Tin Tin - enough.

Any additional comments?

I only finsihed the book because we were discussing it at our book club, but it was painful.

Very disappointing

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I usually love this type of book using popular culture to bring history alive. this was boring, poorly written, poorly organized. I thought Orleans was an acclaimed writer..as I was listening there were so many points where she could have made this a great story, but it read like a term paper, a list of chronological events.

What could Susan Orlean have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Better research, bring your characters to life, put me in the historical context, give the book a real narrative voice.

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

No. Bad decision to have the author read, really flat performance.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Rin Tin Tin?

I would have made lee a real person, made this into a story. As it is, it was repetitive and flat. There's really good narrative nonfiction being written (Boys in the Boat being a recent great one)., this one isn't in the same league.