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In Sunday’s Book Review, Jennifer Schuessler reviews “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend” by The New Yorker writer Susan Orlean. The book chronicles the life of the famous German shepherd who was born on a World War I battlefield, conquered Hollywood and emerged victorious as the perfect family-friendly icon of cold war gunslinging.
Ms. Schuessler writes:
Whether he was rescuing a damsel in distress with a crane or herding bad guys on the frontier, Rin Tin Tin “played out the founding principles of the nation,” Orlean writes, sounding more like Ken Burns than like the author of “The Orchid Thief” (1998), her best-selling exploration of the more obsessive corners of the American character. But by the end of this expertly told tale, she may persuade even the most hardened skeptic that Rin Tin Tin belongs on Mount Rushmore with George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt, or at least somewhere nearby with John Wayne and Seabiscuit.
On this week’s podcast, Ms. Orlean discusses “Rin Tin Tin.” In addition, Steven Heller talks about his latest Visuals column; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Ms. Schuessler has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus, the editor of the Book Review, is the host.