Rin Tin Tin – The life and the Legend is a book about a dog and the man who loved him. It is a book is full of all kinds of history and the people that enter the life of Lee Duncan.  I have to say that this story starts during World War I when the U.S. troops where overseas. It was there that the soldiers found the enemy used dogs for everything from cigarette dogs that took cigarettes to the troops to suicide bombers. It was on a battle riddled stretch of land the Lee came upon a bombed out kennel. He took two dogs’ one girl and one boy both were pups and German Sheppards .

He named them after toy dolls that many soldiers were taking home as souvenirs to their children.  The dolls names were Rin Tin Tin & Nanette and were often made by hand; these dolls were made and sold to help with an orphanage. The book starts out with the history of Lee Duncan and his horrible childhood. Lee seems to me like a loner who gets along better with animals than people. This book takes you through his trials and tribulations of getting into Hollywood and the people he meets. It also takes you through his generations of Rin Tin Tins. This book had me (possibly because I love dogs as well) however it lost me after the first Rin Tin Tin. When the dog dies in the middle of the book I had to force myself to keep reading.

I think maybe it is because if you have a pet you truly love you can’t replace it. I mean Lee really loved this dog. They sort of grew up together. The dog with his personality and relationships with Lee inspired Lee to write stories and scripts for the dog. You cannot replace that. Lee did and with the children and grandchildren of Rin Tin Tin. Lee was disappointed and rightly so he was trying to make lightning strike the same place twice.

The author of this book Susan Orlean‘s fascination with Rin Tin Tin started as a child when she was not allowed to play with her grandfather’s Rin Tin Tin figurine. She really did an abundant amount of research for this book. 

She writes not only of the dogs and Lees relationship but of the history of the times and eras. She must cover a lot of time because there were so many comebacks of Rin Tin Tin.  He started in the silent movie area and ended up on a television show. He was found during World War I so you get that history as well as World War II and all the history of Hollywood, dog training, American Kennel Club registrations, and the breed of dog.  I truly learned a lot but it took me longer to read because there was so much that she it lost me at times. I read a few pages and needed a break. I have to say this is a good book. It is defiantly one for those people who love Rin Tin Tin. I do

 I do not remember Rin Tin Tin never watched a movie or a show of his, until recently I just thought he was a fictional dog in an old children book I picked up a garage sale (that was from the 1950’s). I checked out this book because of my love of animals. I will say it was not at all what I expected. I think this is still a great book for those who are fans of Rin Tin Tin and a good book for animal lovers. I give this book three stars.

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