Albert Payson Terhune

Born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 21, 1872, he grew up in a literary family: his mother was the popular author Marion Harland. After studying in Europe and graduating from Columbia University in 1893, he worked as a journalist for the New York Evening World before building a second career as a fiction writer.

He became famous for stories centered on the rough collies he bred and loved at Sunnybank, his New Jersey home. Lad: A Dog brought him a wide audience, and many of his later books returned to the same mix of loyalty, danger, and deep affection between people and animals.

Terhune died on February 18, 1942, near Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. His dog stories remained popular long after his lifetime, especially with readers who enjoy classic animal tales with heart, suspense, and a strong sense of place.