Albert Payson Terhune Books in Order

How to Read Albert Payson Terhune's Sunnybank Books

For generations of animal lovers, Albert Payson Terhune's stories of the noble, intelligent Rough Collies of his Sunnybank estate (known in the books simply as "The Place") have been a cornerstone of canine literature. Because Terhune wrote his stories as a mix of serialized fiction, magazine articles, and biographical sketches of his real-life dogs, the continuity can seem complex. Readers often wonder whether they should follow the chronological order of the dogs' lives or the publication dates of the books. Below is the definitive guide to navigating the world of Sunnybank.

The Best Starting Point: The Core Lad Trilogy

If you are new to Terhune, the absolute best place to start is with his most famous dog, Lad. While Terhune wrote dozens of books, three core volumes focus specifically on Lad. You should read them in this order:

1. Lad: A Dog (1919) – The classic that started it all. This collection of twelve stories introduces Lad, his mate Lady, and the idyllic Sunnybank estate. It spans the majority of Lad's life.
2. Further Adventures of Lad (1922) – A sequel in publication, but chronologically a collection that fills in gaps in Lad's life, including his arrival at Sunnybank as a puppy, his heroic exploits, and ultimately, his peaceful passing.
3. Lad of Sunnybank (1929) – The final collection dedicated entirely to Lad, offering additional stories from various points in his life.

The Chronological Caveat: Lad's Timeline

A major point of confusion for new readers is the timeline of Lad's life. Lad was a real-life Rough Collie born in 1902 who passed away in 1918. Because Lad: A Dog concludes with Lad's senior years, the subsequent books, Further Adventures of Lad and Lad of Sunnybank, do not continue a forward-moving timeline. Instead, they function as retrospective collections, filling in earlier periods of Lad's youth, prime, and adventures. Therefore, reading them in publication order remains the most satisfying experience, as Terhune references events and themes established in the first book.

The Sunnybank Collie Lineages and Spin-offs

Beyond Lad, Terhune wrote extensively about other collies that lived at Sunnybank. Understanding the relationships between these dogs helps clarify the reading order:

The Descendants of Lad

• Wolf (1925) – Wolf was the real-life son of Lad and Lady. Regarded as the "black sheep" of the kennel due to his smaller size and rambunctious nature, he proved his courage in a series of heroic exploits. His story is told in the novel Wolf, which is best read after finishing the core Lad books.

The Bruce and Gray Dawn Line

• Bruce (1920) – Bruce was another of Terhune's grand collies, representing a distinct lineage from Lad. His book, Bruce, highlights his intelligence and his service during World War I.
• Gray Dawn (1927) – Gray Dawn was the son of Bruce, born shortly after Lad's death. A large, playful blue merle collie, his mischievous nature is captured in Gray Dawn. Reading Bruce before Gray Dawn provides the best appreciation for this family line.

Other Key Sunnybank Collies

• Treve (1924) – Dedicated to another champion collie from a separate breeding line, this book explores the dog's fierce loyalty in rugged settings.
• Buff: A Collie (1921) – An adventure-filled novel tracking a golden collie's devotion and resilience.
• The Way of a Dog (1932) – A retrospective book that includes stories of Lad alongside other Sunnybank favorites.

Complete Publication Order of Sunnybank Books

If you wish to experience the growth of Sunnybank Kennels as contemporary readers did, follow the original publication order of the dog-focused titles:

1. Lad, a Dog (1919)
2. Bruce (1920)
3. Buff (1921)
4. The Heart of a Dog (1921)
5. His Dog (1922)
6. My Friend the Dog (1922)
7. Further Adventures of Lad (1922)
8. A Book of Famous Dogs (1922)
9. Grudge Mountain (1923)
10. Treve (1924)
11. Wolf (1925)
12. Treasure / The Faith of a Collie (1926)
13. The Luk of the Laird (1926)
14. Gray Dawn (1927)
15. Loot! / Collie to The Rescue (1928)
16. Lad of Sunnybank (1929)
17. A Dog Named Chips (1931)
18. The Way Of A Dog (1932)
19. Real Tales of Real Dogs (1935)
20. True Dog Stories (1936)
21. The Critter and Other Dogs (1936)
22. Unseen! (1937)
23. Dogs (1940)

What to Know Before You Start

Terhune's stories are deeply sentimental, celebrating the near-human intelligence, empathy, and loyalty of Rough Collies. However, modern readers should keep a few caveats in mind:

• Standalone Appeal: Almost all of Terhune's dog books are written as collections of episodic short stories or standalone novels. While recurring characters and the shared setting of "The Place" tie them together, you can pick up almost any volume and enjoy it on its own.
• Historical Context: Written in the early 20th century, some stories contain outdated social depictions and terminology. Approaching the books as historical products of their era will help readers focus on the timeless themes of animal companionship.
• Real-Life Grounds: Visited today as Terhune Memorial Park in Wayne, New Jersey, the real Sunnybank estate houses the graves of Lad, Lady, Wolf, Bruce, and Gray Dawn, allowing fans to visit the very setting where these legendary tales occurred.