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Gray Dawn

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Gray Dawn, a blue merle collie born in Sunnybank, never does things as the others do, or as the others before him. Early on, the Master is convinced that Gray Dawn is a hopeless case, and is about to sell him to another breeder, despite his wife's protests. But Gray Dawn is spared at the last moment by performing a courageous deed that wins his Master's heart.

A reissued paperback edition of the stories written by Albert Payson Terhune for The Ladies' Home Journal in 1927 in serial form.

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1927

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About the author

Albert Payson Terhune

279 books70 followers
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.

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5 stars
143 (57%)
4 stars
70 (28%)
3 stars
30 (12%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
198 reviews
December 24, 2017
I read this book for the first time probably around fifty years ago, smitten as a kid with an obsession with all things Terhune. In my recent reaquaintance with his writings and life, chiefly through The Sunnybank Memorial group and their yearly gatherings at Sunnybank, I have decided to re-read the old Terhune classics. Gray Dawn did not disappoint. In his rather archaic prose, Terhune tells the story of a bumptious clown of a dog, who underneath his bumbling, possesses the classic Terhune-esque perfection of heart and soul and courage which separates him from the average dog. This book was written in decidedly non-politically-correct style, but possesses the old magic that draws out the dog-crazy youngster still within me.
Profile Image for Diệu Hương.
110 reviews
July 11, 2022
Bình Minh Xám có lẽ là một trong những chú chó độc đáo nhất trong những câu chuyện mình từng đọc về những chú chó, bởi nó không phải là một chú chó xuất sắc như Buck, Kazan hay Nanh Trắng, nó là một đứa siêu hậu đậu, vụng về và hay phá bĩnh những lúc quan trọng. Thế nhưng, những lúc cần thiết thì nó lại trở nên thông minh và dũng cảm không kém gì những chú chó kể trên. Nói chung là một câu chuyện đáng đọc.
Profile Image for Jim Patterson.
45 reviews
June 16, 2020
This book was published in 1927. The story is about a silver/gray Collie named Gray Dawn. I liked this “runt” in a litter of eight. He appears to turn things around with bad to good behavior. He takes on the image of a Collie much like Lassie. A very good read with exception to the old English text.
Profile Image for Vu Minh Thu.
55 reviews6 followers
June 15, 2018
“Nếu anh đã bơi vượt được Đại Tây Dương thì liệu anh có còn sợ phải lội qua vũng bùn nữa không?”
Và “Chỉ có tình yêu mới có thể đẩy một con chó thuần chủng vào chỗ chết.”
Profile Image for Timothy Rg.
28 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2020
The penultimate chapter, "the Tartar-Catcher" is a great standalone read for any nonbelievers.
May 29, 2021
Really enjoyed the stories and hate to have the book end

Really enjoyed the stories and hate to have the book end. I read
The Way of a Dog first. Enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Jeri Massi.
Author 75 books90 followers
April 30, 2013
The biggest draw of GRAY DAWN for young readers is that he starts out as "the underdog," not respected by his own master. Gray Dawn's struggle to find his courage is one that many adults may pass off as too corny, but I think children will find it as meaningful now as they ever did . Gray Dawn, the cowardly puppy who desperately wants to be liked, discovers that when the person he loves is in danger, he is as brave as his master could wish. And that link, of love to courage, is such a priceless lesson to children today, when courage is perceived as swaggering and boasting and having big muscles, that any parent should jump to get a story that tells the real truth about courage.

Indeed, GRAY DAWN is the Terhune book that, I think, most clearly talks about love as a transforming element and also as that bedrock on which all goodness rests. Yes, Gray Dawn is a clown, and a foolish dog in many ways, but every time it comes down to what he loves, he grows one step further and does the right thing. Terhune can sometimes over-hammer his points home, but for the most part he does not do so in this book. Children readers have here a story about all the antics and adventures of a dog, but GRAY DAWN is also about growing up and taking on mature responsibilities, about being yourself as much as you want as long as your heart is true to your loved ones.

In spite of a dated narrative and a writing style that is, at times, heavy handed, I think this is the best of Terhune's books because Gray Dawn really does face what all growing children face: bullies, and terrors, and people who lie to them and try to hurt them, and dear friends, and family, and funny situations, and the joy of being alive. And Gray Dawn, like the reader, is not perfect, and that's refreshing. But in the end, he comes through.
Profile Image for Lisa Rathbun.
637 reviews45 followers
Read
August 11, 2011
This book belonged to my father when he was a boy. I found it on the shelf in his old bedroom, read it, and fell in love with the collie and his amazing, thrilling adventures. Much later, I read a review of Terhune that was most unflattering and if I were to read this as an adult, I'm sure I'd find parts that are politically incorrect and parts about dogs that are just smarmy. Still though, I remember chapter after chapter of this brave dog's escapades.
192 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2015
An Incredible dog

I live not twenty miles from where these stories were written over eighty years ago. The home that was "The Place" has been plowed down to make way for route 17. Never before not after would such a number of grand Collies all come from one place. Though "The Place" is long gone now, it lives on in wo
662 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2012
Read all these as a kid. Fun to read again. Difference in language used since this was written in 1920's. Grey Dawn was one of my favorites.
Profile Image for Kathy.
41 reviews
December 28, 2015
I love all of Terhune's dog books. This book is about one of the last of the great Sunnybank collies, Gray Dawn.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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