A Highland Collie - Originally Published as the Luck of the Laird

by Albert Payson Terhune

This early work by Albert Payson Terhune was originally published in 1917. 'A Highland Collie' is one of Terhune's well-loved canine stories. Terhune was a famous American author, dog breeder, and journalist, best known for his adventure novels about collies.

Genres: Dogs, Classics, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2013

About the author

Albert Payson Terhune (1872 - 1942), a local author of some fame, wrote numerous adventures about Collies, most notably, "Lad, A Dog", "Sunnybank: Home of Lad", and "Further Adventures of Lad". Sunnybank, his home on the eastern shore of Pompton Lakes in northern New Jersey, was originally the home of Terhune's parents, Edward Payson Terhune and Mary Virginia Hawes Terhune. Later as his home with his wife, Anice Stockton Terhune, Sunnybank became famous as "The Place" in the many stories of Terhune. Much of the land once constituting the Sunnybank estate was lost to developers in the 1960's with the house being demolished in 1969. Fortunately though, the central 9.6 acres was preserved through the dedicated efforts of Terhune fans and dog fanciers, and is now Terhune Sunnybank Memorial Park, administered by the Wayne Township Parks Department.

Reviews

[Sarah Frankowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I read almost all of Albert Payson Terhune's dog books as a 12-13 year old. I saw this book in an antique store and couldn't resist buying it. It was pretty good, but having been written in the 1920's it's kind of hard to relate to it. But if you read the books way back when, and always wanted to own a collie, then you'll enjoy the nostalgic look back to a simpler time.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel of adventure, heroism, and breathtaking suspense.

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this really suspenseful dog and people centered story. Albert Payson Terhune's "A Highland Collie" (Luck of the Laird), many of his dog books have short stories centered on a particular dog, this was written as a novel not scenarios which I also enjoyed. Rufus G. Belden, owner of Lochivar Bobby, the wealthy businessman who wants to have the awards for the best collies at the dog shows and he is competing with his rich neighbor, that has just beat him terribly in the last show. His honest trainer Jamie Mackeller is back also, he has warned his boss that they need new dog blood to their kennels, he suggests a collie from his hometown in Scotland but it seems it is impossible mission. The dog has little air time but he is the object of the story. This seemed far fetched at times but still fun.

Story in short- Roy Garth is happy to go to Scotland on this mission, looking forward to the rewards, which included Belden approving of his marriage to Phyllis.



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When Roy was leaving to go on this mission, it seemed that Phyllis was not too disturb, if they were so in love, why did she keep company with Brant Ulrich, the son of the rich neighbor next door. After Phyllis told Brant about Roy's mission to Scotland for the champion collie, Roy was disappointed when he heard that she had told the secret. I knew that they probably would not marry even though Kathleen was not mentioned yet. Terhune seems to love though athletic male characters that are shorter and stocky that like to box. Brant had Roy's taxi driver paid to take him to a remote spot where he was attacked by four men but he escaped. Macbeath seemed quite like his ancestors looking to rob or cheat, this he was doing by when Brant finally comes and sells the dog to him, when just before the dog was sold to Roy, but luckily Roy found that a lot lesser dog was replaced the champion. I loved Kathleen, Macbeath niece who wins Roy's heart and vise versa. Roy is worried about Phyllis wanting to marry him now since he loves Kathleen but is happy when the carefree Phyllis decides it is no longer fun to be attacked to Roy, since her father approves. Roy is happy to tell Kathleen that they will be married. I loved that Roy had come to his senses and went with the Scottish lass. Even though Brant wanted Roy dead, after Roy knocked him senseless by his maneuver in moving where Brant hit a hard surface, ending up very ill for a long time, it seemed when it occurred he was not too concerned.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Lad:a Dog by Albert Payson Terhune. It was my introduction to reading "real" books and the ending has always brought me to tears. Terhune will always be a very special author for me. This is not his best work.

It seemed to me that the country of Scotland was the most real character in this story. There were many descriptive passages that made the setting real. The characters are memorable but that is partly because they do not seem very complex.

Even more disappointing than the rather flat characters were the unrealistic "chance" events that moved the story along. Most unlikely was a traveling event for a main character, key to the end of the story.

[Eva Tipps · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this story by Terhune. It had nothing to do with the collie. It was all about the greed of humans and how willing they are to double-cross each other to get what they want. I was hoping for an uplifting story in this time of COVID; This was NOT it.

[Caren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I prefer his other books.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not one of my favorite Albert Payson Terhune collie books, I love that it is largely set in Scotland. The dialect of the laird and others there give me a real feel for what it must have felt like to the young American, Roy Garth, as he went to such lengths to acquire a great collie. Note: I also liked the female protagonist's name... Kathleen! :)