About the Author
.jpg/:/rs=w:1209,h:1612,cg:true,m/cr=w:1209,h:1612)
Albert Payson Terhune
(December 21, 1872 – February 18, 1942)
American Author
Payson loved dogs as much as he loved writing, and his beloved dogs were often both the subject of and heros of his stories.
Read more about him here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Payson_Terhune
AI Overview
Albert Payson Terhune (1872–1942) was a highly celebrated American author, journalist, and dog breeder. He is best known as the "father of the dog story genre", specifically for his beloved novels about rough collies at his Sunnybank Kennels in Wayne, New Jersey. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Early Life & Career
- Born in Newark, New Jersey, to a prominent literary family.
- Graduated from Columbia University in 1893.
- Worked as a prominent reporter and feature writer for the New York Evening World from 1894 to 1916.
- Wrote extensively about boxing, travel, and early fiction before turning to dog stories. [1, 2, 3]
The Sunnybank Legacy & "Lad"
- He and his wife Anice lived at Sunnybank, a sprawling estate on Lake Pompton, NJ.
- He bred international champion collies.
- His most famous work, Lad: A Dog (1919), compiled his magazine stories into a highly successful novel.
- He wrote over 30 dog-focused books, shaping how generations viewed the breed. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Cultural Impact & Modern Perspective
- Terhune’s stories emphasized fierce loyalty, bravery, and an almost human-like sentience in dogs.
- Modern readers and scholars sometimes criticize Terhune for stark, outdated portrayals of rural minorities and hill people in his non-dog fiction.
- His legacy lives on through the continued lineage of Sunnybank collies and his foundational influence on the dog story genre. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Further Exploration: Terhune's Legacy and Work
- Discover his biography and literary roots via Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- Browse archival materials at the Montclair History Center.
- Find historical catalogs of his work through the Wayne Township history collection. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Would you like to know more about specific Terhune novels (like Lad or Bruce), or are you looking for information on his newspaper columns and articles? [1]
Albert Payson Terhune Book List
Albert Payson Terhune, Master of Sunnybank, wrote over 30 dog novels, several historical and travel books, and thousands of newspaper columns.
His writing style blended vivid adventure with an intense admiration for animal intelligence.
Famous Dog Books
- Lad: A Dog (1919): His breakout collection of stories about his real-life collie, Lad.
- Bruce (1920): A moving tale of a Sunnybank collie who serves as a courier dog in World War I.
- Buff: A Collie (1921): The story of a fiercely loyal dog and his adventures across the countryside.
- Further Adventures of Lad (1922): The highly requested sequel detailing Lad's early life and later years.
- Lad of Sunnybank (1929): Additional lore and anecdotes centering around his most famous canine companion.
Journalism & Non-Fiction
- Boxing Profiles: He ghostwrote the autobiography of world heavyweight champion James J. Corbett.
- Syria from the Saddle (1896): A travel book based on his extensive horseback journey through the Middle East.
- Superwomen (1916): A historical collection of biographies focusing on powerful women in history.
- The World's Great Events (1908): A massive multi-volume history series aimed at a popular audience.
Fiction & General Magazines
- The Secret of Red Gate Farm (1931): He co-authored this early Nancy Drew mystery outline alongside Edward Stratemeyer's syndicate.
- Black Caesar's Clan (1922): A fast-paced adventure and mystery novel set in the Florida Keys.
- Magazine Stories: He published hundreds of short fiction pieces in The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, and Atlantic Monthly.
Would you like a breakdown of a specific book's plot, or are you interested in how his real-life collies inspired these fictional stories?
Lad, a Dog, the Movie
Read About It: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lad,_A_Dog_(film)
Watch the Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVcxOkZaQe0
My Friend the Dog, 1926
AI Overview
My friend the dog
Book by Albert Payson Terhune
My Friend the Dog is a 1926 collection of short stories by Albert Payson Terhune, famous for his dog stories, particularly about collies from his Sunnybank estate, focusing on themes of loyalty, heroism, and companionship. The book contains eleven tales, including stories about collies as pets, helpers, and trackers, and one about a wolf. It's considered a classic in children's and animal fiction, often featuring his well-known collie characters.
- Author: Albert Payson Terhune
- Published: Originally in 1926, by Grosset & Dunlap
- Genre: Children's, Animal Fiction, Classics, Short Stories
- Content: Eleven stories about collies and other dogs, including tales of them as pets, helpers, and companions, exploring themes of loyalty, intelligence, and love.
- Significance: An early work by Terhune, it's a collectible vintage book that continues to be republished.
- Legacy: A classic work in dog literature, often reprinted and available in various editions, including vintage and modern versions.
Famous for his collie tales, his work focuses on canine loyalty, intelligence, and heroism, often featuring his own dogs from the Sunnybank estate. The book contains eleven stories about collies and their human companions, exploring themes of love, bravery, and the bond between dogs and people, and is considered a classic in dog literature.
About the Author
Read the Original
*only available for purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0078TKYES?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Read the Project Gutenberg Digital Transcription
Listen to the Audiobook
not available