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Red Dog
Brand New. Will be shipped from US.
119 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
100 people are currently reading
2070 people want to read
About the author
Louis de Bernières
59 books2,126 followersLouis de Bernières is an English novelist. He is known for his 1994 historical war novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In 1993 de Bernières was selected as one of the "20 Best of Young British Novelists", part of a promotion in Granta magazine. Captain Corelli's Mandolin was published in the following year, winning the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book. It was also shortlisted for the 1994 Sunday Express Book of the Year. It has been translated into over 11 languages and is an international best-seller.
On 16 July 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in the Arts by the De Montfort University in Leicester, which he had attended when it was Leicester Polytechnic.
Politically, he identifies himself as Eurosceptic and has voiced his support for the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.
On 16 July 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in the Arts by the De Montfort University in Leicester, which he had attended when it was Leicester Polytechnic.
Politically, he identifies himself as Eurosceptic and has voiced his support for the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews
March 21, 2013
Plain tales, simply told, based on true stories of a dog who lived in the Pilbara area of Western Australia in the 1970s. Red Dog obviously touches a chord with the iron ore mining community among whom he lives: defiant, self-sufficient, obstinate, and thoroughly undomesticated, he embodies the pioneer spirit, the mongrel mentality, the sense of independence of that far-flung community. It's funny what heroes we memorialize with statuary:
Oh, and there was a film too:
Funny, too, what will keep our little minds fairly amused while gently recuperating from a double whammy bug. This has been on my shelves forever, if I remember right my Mum pressed it on me in return for passing on to her my copy of Corelli's Mandolin (not a keeper). Thus it didn't actually cost me anything, but I do wonder about the price that publishers will demand for something that provides no more than 90 minutes of entertainment.
Oh, and there was a film too:
Funny, too, what will keep our little minds fairly amused while gently recuperating from a double whammy bug. This has been on my shelves forever, if I remember right my Mum pressed it on me in return for passing on to her my copy of Corelli's Mandolin (not a keeper). Thus it didn't actually cost me anything, but I do wonder about the price that publishers will demand for something that provides no more than 90 minutes of entertainment.
March 31, 2022
Bu nasıl minnoş, nasıl tatlı bir hikâyedir... İngiliz yazar Louis de Bernieres’in Avustralya’daki Kırmızı Köpek heykelinden etkilenip kaleme aldığı müthiş bir roman ‘Kırmızı Köpek’. İç ısıtan, yüz güldüren, ‘büyüklere masallar’ tadında, buruk ve güçlü bir metin. İnanılmaz sevdim... Keşke İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları yine çağdaş dünya edebiyatına ağırlık verse...
September 30, 2012
This is a piquant fictional account of a real dog in Western Australia who achieved a vibrant independent life and captured the hearts of a broad community of people. Red Dog was a kelpie (medium-sized herding breed) who abandoned his first owner for the pleasures of multiple “homes” and travel. He learned to catch rides by car and bus and expanded his range until he became known and supported over a large region.
Red Dog’s adventures are recounted in a short book that makes you want more. The tale reveals the various fascinating ways he intersected the lives of people he “adopted” along the way. His career bears comparison with that of Ted Kerasote’s wonderful comprehensive memoir Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, a Colorado dog who also achieved the run of his community, though differing in retaining one owner. In breaking the bonds of the servile role expected of family dogs, Red Dog also shares some similarities with Farley Mowatt’s heartwarming tall tales of his boyhood dog in The Dog Who Wouldn't Be.
The book itself is a work of art, published with thick vellum pages and beautiful evocative illustrations. It also benefits from the prose skills of the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Birds without Wings.
Red Dog’s adventures are recounted in a short book that makes you want more. The tale reveals the various fascinating ways he intersected the lives of people he “adopted” along the way. His career bears comparison with that of Ted Kerasote’s wonderful comprehensive memoir Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, a Colorado dog who also achieved the run of his community, though differing in retaining one owner. In breaking the bonds of the servile role expected of family dogs, Red Dog also shares some similarities with Farley Mowatt’s heartwarming tall tales of his boyhood dog in The Dog Who Wouldn't Be.
The book itself is a work of art, published with thick vellum pages and beautiful evocative illustrations. It also benefits from the prose skills of the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Birds without Wings.
April 27, 2008
Red Dog actually existed; the author notes in the author's note that the stories he tells in the book are all based in reality, and that all he invented were the characters. He first came across mention of Red Dog in 1998 when he went to Perth to attend a literature festival; part of the program was that the author would make his way to Karratha, a mining town to the north. There he came across a bronze statue of Red Dog, and wanted to find out more. To write the book, he later returned to the area, and just drove around & collected stories about Red Dog. He got some of his info from newspaper cuttings as well as two other books published about the dog in Australia.
The book is only 119 pages long of which the last three contain a brief glossary of Aussie terms. I read that part first and I would advise you to do the same. The story itself isn't one long narrative, but rather short little glimpses of Red Dog's life and adventures. Red Dog was loved by many people, didn't really have an owner, and was independent and assertive enough so that people let him have his way, and eventually, a majority of the people who came in touch with Red Dog ended up loving him.
The book is at times laugh-out-loud funny & you actually begin to feel that you are getting to know this dog while you're reading the book. The story is heartwarming yet a little sad at the end, but what a great story it is!
To be quite honest, I don't normally like stories about animals, and I picked this up only because it was recommended to me as a choice for novels set in Australia or by Australian authors, but I ended up absolutely loving this book. I would simply recommend it to EVERYONE, dog lover or no. For you cat people, there are some funny bits about a cat in here.
The book is only 119 pages long of which the last three contain a brief glossary of Aussie terms. I read that part first and I would advise you to do the same. The story itself isn't one long narrative, but rather short little glimpses of Red Dog's life and adventures. Red Dog was loved by many people, didn't really have an owner, and was independent and assertive enough so that people let him have his way, and eventually, a majority of the people who came in touch with Red Dog ended up loving him.
The book is at times laugh-out-loud funny & you actually begin to feel that you are getting to know this dog while you're reading the book. The story is heartwarming yet a little sad at the end, but what a great story it is!
To be quite honest, I don't normally like stories about animals, and I picked this up only because it was recommended to me as a choice for novels set in Australia or by Australian authors, but I ended up absolutely loving this book. I would simply recommend it to EVERYONE, dog lover or no. For you cat people, there are some funny bits about a cat in here.
January 12, 2009
I read this book in essentially one sitting, put it down, and heaved a huge sigh of contentment. I have two other books by this author on my "to be read" pile, but picked this one up because it was sent to me by quinnsmom. (Did you know today is her birthday? Happy, happy, chica!)
Anyhow, though this is simply told, I got very involved in the characters. I could relate to dogs that pass gas, cats that hiss, people that live life fully and all sorts of thing. What I didn't expect was the full range of emotions that this book would carry me through. There are some very sad bits, but no more than life brings us in the normal twists and turns. I found myself thinking of Greyfriars Bobby, the dog from Edinburgh with the lovely statue (Here's the Wiki entry.) Dog loyalty is a wonderful thing. And the nice thing in Red Dog's case, is that he had the love and affection of an entire community.
Anyhow, I liked this a lot, and wandered around on the net to find a picture of the statue.
Anyhow, though this is simply told, I got very involved in the characters. I could relate to dogs that pass gas, cats that hiss, people that live life fully and all sorts of thing. What I didn't expect was the full range of emotions that this book would carry me through. There are some very sad bits, but no more than life brings us in the normal twists and turns. I found myself thinking of Greyfriars Bobby, the dog from Edinburgh with the lovely statue (Here's the Wiki entry.) Dog loyalty is a wonderful thing. And the nice thing in Red Dog's case, is that he had the love and affection of an entire community.
Anyhow, I liked this a lot, and wandered around on the net to find a picture of the statue.
July 14, 2024
Not to be confused with Kipling's "Jungle Book" story of the same name, this was on a library rack of Australian fiction. As it was written by the same guy who wrote Correlli's Mandolin, I thought this would be an adult novel, or at least as semi-adult as most dog-based fiction is. However, this is seriously in the middle grade range at best, (even though the library hadn't shelved it with YA or juvenile - will have to mention when I return).
That said - a quick, enjoyable read that's as much about the hardy folks of the Australian far west as it is about Red Dog (who reminded me a lot of a more macho "Hachi") himself. A tough dry people in a tough dry place that's so scorchingly hot, fuel tanks will literally explode if left out in the blazing sun. So, y'know, where we're all headed…
That said - a quick, enjoyable read that's as much about the hardy folks of the Australian far west as it is about Red Dog (who reminded me a lot of a more macho "Hachi") himself. A tough dry people in a tough dry place that's so scorchingly hot, fuel tanks will literally explode if left out in the blazing sun. So, y'know, where we're all headed…
November 15, 2012
Haven't read, but seen the movie, upon a high recommendation. (Noela, you have a lot of making up to do.)
I see that in the book the dog's only 'master' is half-Maori. In the movie they have made him American, played by an actor of some note, presumably because Americans don't watch movies that don't have an American connection. Cringe. I do wish Australians and English movie-makers would stop doing that. For me it spoilt the movie, if it had been made for an Australian market, as most of those sorts of films are locally, I imagine it would have been a much better thing. More like The Castle, for example, which made no effort whatsoever to appeal to non-Australians and is far superior.
I see that in the book the dog's only 'master' is half-Maori. In the movie they have made him American, played by an actor of some note, presumably because Americans don't watch movies that don't have an American connection. Cringe. I do wish Australians and English movie-makers would stop doing that. For me it spoilt the movie, if it had been made for an Australian market, as most of those sorts of films are locally, I imagine it would have been a much better thing. More like The Castle, for example, which made no effort whatsoever to appeal to non-Australians and is far superior.
August 28, 2011
As both a dog-lover (understatement) and an Aussie, how could I not love this short little tale of a dog with such character and personality (and wind)? It's incredible that the author never met this dog, the way he writes about the mischief and adventures is so genuine and feels so real, like it could be your own dog or you neighbour's dog he's describing. John was also a fantastic character, the kind of guy you'd love to be able to count amongst your close friends.
The rural Australian slang was dead on and the imagery of Australia's scorching, hellish summers and diverse landscape was delightful to read. I wanted to read this before seeing the film and I'm so glad I did. Best part? You can knock it over in a couple of hours and put it down feeling content and cheerful.
The rural Australian slang was dead on and the imagery of Australia's scorching, hellish summers and diverse landscape was delightful to read. I wanted to read this before seeing the film and I'm so glad I did. Best part? You can knock it over in a couple of hours and put it down feeling content and cheerful.
October 16, 2011
Red Dog is the 5th book by Louis de Bernieres and was inspired when de Bernieres visited the West Australian town of Karratha for a literary dinner and came across the bronze statue to Red Dog outside the town of Dampier. As the author learned more about the dog, he formulated the novel, which is essentially an amalgamation of the anecdotes told about this much loved animal, his endearing and also his annoying habits, his ability to get under the guard of the most hardened characters, and his eventual search for the master he loved and missed and seemed determined to track down. It is a heart-warming tale.
September 24, 2024
My son and I started reading this together, but he wasn't enjoying it, so I continued without him. Red Dog is a classic Australian story that I think would appeal to animal lovers, teenagers and adults. 3.5 stars.
December 3, 2023
A story about a famous Australian stray dog and his "adopted" owners and friends and his adventures in Australia. This novella is a short and powerful read (with some animal cruelty scenes, just be warned) about an incredible dog who lived as a vagabond and was accepted in a small mining town by (most of the) locals, even having his own bus seat. A really powerful story about how animals and people can bond and how a small community can be the found family of a stray.
September 6, 2015
This is the reason Australian stories shouldn't be written by non-Australians. This collection of awkwardly phrased sentences - which relied on a plethora of unnecessary drawings to reach the page numbers required to be published as a book - is an insult to anyone who considers themselves Australian. The book is populated with caricatures and offensive stereotypes that make Australians look mentally deficient.
The movie was a heartwrenching look at the loneliness of Northern WA mixed with down to earth humour and a message of mateship. The book is, in a single word, disappointing.
The movie was a heartwrenching look at the loneliness of Northern WA mixed with down to earth humour and a message of mateship. The book is, in a single word, disappointing.
March 28, 2022
Σίγουρα αν έχεις αγαπήσει πολύ ένα σκύλο στη ζωή σου μπορείς να αγαπήσεις αυτο το βιβλιο. Κάποιες στιγμές αστείο , κάποιες στιγμές φιλοζωικό να αναδεικνύει την απανθρωπιά κάποιον , κάποιες στιγμές παιδικό και περιπετειώδες , ενδιαφέρον το κομματι της κατανόησης ενός τετράποδου και της ανάδειξης μιας ιδιοφυούς φύσης σε ένα ζώο . Οχι κάτι μοναδικο σαν βιβλιο μου θύμισε λίγο κατοικίδιο Κίπλινγκ αλλά καταλήγοντας ένα γλυκό ευκολο βιβλιο που ομως σίγουρα δεν είναι το καλύτερο βιβλιο που θα διαβάσει ποτέ κάποιος .
September 11, 2022
If you wanted to understand Australia and Australians, and specifically rural Australia, and even more specifically the north west of WA, you probably couldn't do any better than reading this book.
Something about a dog that decides to choose his own master and then become a dog of the commons is so decidedly Australian. Along with his indestructible, laid-back, and lovable roguish nature, this dog roams an area larger than most countries. Red Dog is the best of Australia.
Something about a dog that decides to choose his own master and then become a dog of the commons is so decidedly Australian. Along with his indestructible, laid-back, and lovable roguish nature, this dog roams an area larger than most countries. Red Dog is the best of Australia.
October 2, 2011
Quite randomly grabbed this in the bookswap, and I'm very glad I did now! Although with this book, Beth has now witnessed just how much I really can sob my heart out over a book... jeez, this easily got me as bad as Thunderwith did - twice over! I was crying so hard by the time Bill was unable to put Red Dog down that I couldn't see anymore. When I managed to return to the book, I barely made it through the next (and last) like, six pages before once more being blinded. It makes it worse that this was a true story and that really happened. I hope that the men found out who was responsible and went and performed a little vigilante justice of their own. Justifiable homicide for sure. People make me so upset sometimes, especially where animals are involved. :(
This was a gorgeous book - basically the tale of a dog who, in his short life, becomes famous pretty much throughout the entire of WA. This was in the 70s and the outback towns were small, where everyone knew each other and knew the Red Dog. It was simply amazing to read, such a joy and delight! And though the author was not Australian, he did a pretty good job at writing a book about Australians, set in Australia. There were a couple of misuses of the word 'dag', and maybe one or two other things that weren't natural or were a bit too OTT, but apart from that it was really well done and just the sort of thing I needed to read. A beautiful dog and the beautiful outback - even if the ending did damn well destroy me.
I seriously need to go and find the most cheerful book on my shelf right now after that!
This was a gorgeous book - basically the tale of a dog who, in his short life, becomes famous pretty much throughout the entire of WA. This was in the 70s and the outback towns were small, where everyone knew each other and knew the Red Dog. It was simply amazing to read, such a joy and delight! And though the author was not Australian, he did a pretty good job at writing a book about Australians, set in Australia. There were a couple of misuses of the word 'dag', and maybe one or two other things that weren't natural or were a bit too OTT, but apart from that it was really well done and just the sort of thing I needed to read. A beautiful dog and the beautiful outback - even if the ending did damn well destroy me.
I seriously need to go and find the most cheerful book on my shelf right now after that!
October 2, 2013
Esta é uma história muito bonita. Sem grandes profunidades, a leitura deste livro leva-nos longe. Os nossos olhos são guiados pela vida animal, num percurso simples e rico de fantasia e imaginação.
Assistimos à humanização de uma animal que realmente existiu - o que é fantástico. O livro é bem interessante e vale a pena para qualquer idade. É cheio de magia-viva: magia-animal.
Fica na cabeça a história e as peripécias do cão vermelho, fazendo deste livro algo de muito bom para se ler. Envolve-nos gradualmente até que o cão-personagem, é nosso. O cão vermelho é o nosso cão, quer o nosso cão-imaginário, quer aquele/aqueles que cerdadeiramente temos em nossas casas. Resumidamente: quem não gostar e sentir a vida animal, não gosta e não sente a vida deste livro.
Assistimos à humanização de uma animal que realmente existiu - o que é fantástico. O livro é bem interessante e vale a pena para qualquer idade. É cheio de magia-viva: magia-animal.
Fica na cabeça a história e as peripécias do cão vermelho, fazendo deste livro algo de muito bom para se ler. Envolve-nos gradualmente até que o cão-personagem, é nosso. O cão vermelho é o nosso cão, quer o nosso cão-imaginário, quer aquele/aqueles que cerdadeiramente temos em nossas casas. Resumidamente: quem não gostar e sentir a vida animal, não gosta e não sente a vida deste livro.
January 14, 2022
Red dog, 🤔 what can I say. I found it to be a decent read. At first I had my doubts because it seemed to talk about a dog with a bad oder, turns out that it is much more to him than that, he was part of a community that he brought together.
March 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It’s so endearing, I really wanted to have met Red Dog. The story isn’t deep or particularly meaningful, it’s just a nice read. A great in between books story.
March 21, 2019
Lovely story. De Bernieres has done a good job of weaving the legends into a sweet tale.
I enjoyed a little insight into a tough pioneering style of life too.
I enjoyed a little insight into a tough pioneering style of life too.
March 25, 2019
Güzel, naif kısacık bir roman.
Kırmızı Köpek ile tanıştığım için mutluyum.
Kırmızı Köpek ile tanıştığım için mutluyum.
March 4, 2025
Um conjunto de histórias engraçadas sobre o Cão Vermelho, um cão vadio mas de todos, que vivia a sua vida de liberdade e aventuras, ao seu ritmo, à sua maneira.
March 10, 2021
Watched the film first (as I'm sure everyone did) and I must say, they did a great job of adapting the novel. I've been trying to get over my hatred of audiobooks and this one was fairly short so I had a pretty good time.
May 20, 2024
I thought I was not going to cry during the book but I did. I cried like a baby.
August 30, 2022
About a real dog that lived with a community in Australia - the stories told about it are either twee or just boring
September 16, 2011
If this author didn't have a bestseller or five already under his belt, I'd like to have heard him try and pitch this book to a publisher- "Well, it's a collection of true stories about a flatulent red dog in Western Australia, and, along the way, we all learn something about human nature, the immigrant experience and the incipient stirrings of a new culture in the Southern hemisphere." Luckily, Louis DeBernieres has enough money to do whatever he pleases these days and as a result we have this book of mythic vignettes from the life of one `Red Dog'.
Written in a style and vocabulary that wouldn't challenge your average 12-year-old, Red Dog relates stories as told to the author by people who actually knew the titular beastie. The Aussie dialect jumps off the page like a colourful episode of Neighbours as swagmen, kookaburras and `strewthing' all put in regular appearances and bring the warmly described characters to life.
It won't take you more than a couple of hours to read the whole book, but even so, I'd recommend reading it a chapter at a time over several days as its effects are subtle and you'll be sorry you finished it so quickly. I can't think of another book that covers this kind of ground so well.
Written in a style and vocabulary that wouldn't challenge your average 12-year-old, Red Dog relates stories as told to the author by people who actually knew the titular beastie. The Aussie dialect jumps off the page like a colourful episode of Neighbours as swagmen, kookaburras and `strewthing' all put in regular appearances and bring the warmly described characters to life.
It won't take you more than a couple of hours to read the whole book, but even so, I'd recommend reading it a chapter at a time over several days as its effects are subtle and you'll be sorry you finished it so quickly. I can't think of another book that covers this kind of ground so well.
September 27, 2011
I firstly went to see the movie - as it was out on the big screen and I didn't know it was a book before a movie. Then, I went out to look at how much the book was and found it was far too expensive to purchase it for myself; however that afternoon, Mum bought it for me! How's that for fate! I was supposed to read this book!
I loved Red Dog. His character is strong in this book. I laughed out loud to the stories in this book; no matter how far-fetched they seem. But, it looks like you have to be a dog owner to know exactly what Red Dog went through... to understand him.
This is a great, touching and brilliant book. Makes me want to get another dog; and I look at dogs differently again... not that I looked at them in any other way; just that they were always our mates. Red Dog was a friend to all.
I loved Red Dog. His character is strong in this book. I laughed out loud to the stories in this book; no matter how far-fetched they seem. But, it looks like you have to be a dog owner to know exactly what Red Dog went through... to understand him.
This is a great, touching and brilliant book. Makes me want to get another dog; and I look at dogs differently again... not that I looked at them in any other way; just that they were always our mates. Red Dog was a friend to all.
April 25, 2015
I had already watched movie about The Red Dog. I picked up the book due to beautiful, minimalistic illustrations inside. The book was a quick read. The places in Western Australia mentioned in the book were familiar to me due to my work: Dampier salt field, Hammerseley Iron, Karratha, Paraburdoo airport, Mt Tom Price. But, I felt I had better hold on these locations now. The selfless bond between different people of Pilbara and the red dog was sweet. The incident when they lose pay as well as spend travel/vet cost to get Red dog treated because he was shot is touching. A recommended quick read, esp for animal lovers.
Here is some Perth love on Instagram: https://instagram.com/p/1d-YLsElXW/
Here is some Perth love on Instagram: https://instagram.com/p/1d-YLsElXW/
July 5, 2014
Seems like a slow start, in which you think that it is just a collection of stories about a semi wild dog in the Australian outback. And well, this could be the case. But as you move along it starts to grow on you. The style is convincing and you slowly forget you are reading a book. Didn't really think I will like it when I started off, but by the end I started thinking I need to read something else by Louis. Or maybe that is just my love for animals and my deeply buried faith in human goodness speaking from me. I don't know. Read it an find out for youself - it is less than a 2 hour job anyway.
March 31, 2015
Red Dog was a Red Cloud kelpie, full of character with an insatiable appetite and an even larger appetite for a wandering life, always managing to find any action to be found. I can see why Louis de Bernieres became obsessed with Red Dog's story and the massive impact he made on countless people and other animals. He became renowned throughout North-Western Australia ensuring his legend remains. Very few dogs get such literal and figurative mileage out of life.
I love my dogs above all else and I love, love Red Dog for his intelligence, friendly companionship, and above all his indomitable spirit.
January 1, 2023
A short but enchanting book. This is a fictional account, based on the real story, of Red Dog, a kelpie who travelled the Pilbarra region of Western Australia in the 1970s and has a bronze statue erected in his honour outside Dampier. Red Dog is a feisty, independent traveller who belongs to no-one and everyone, and hitches rides far and wide, winning his way into the hearts of the mining community in the Pilbarra. He develops a close and special relationship with John, which ends in tragedy. The most surprising thing about this book is that it’s not written by an Australian, as it has a very authentic “ocker” Aussie feel to it. Funny, poignant, sweet and at times sad.
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