Thomas Savage's book, which received a new translation in 2019, has recently been brought back into the spotlight by Jane Campion's film broadcast on Netflix, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst.

The Power of the Dog is a novel published in 1967 in the United States. Ahead of its time, it shows another image of the American West. This new edition, published by Gallmeister, allows readers to rediscover a piece of American literature that remains largely unknown in France.

The Author and His Work

Writer Thomas Savage published this work in 1967 and wrote twelve other novels while working in various professions. He was a sheep rancher, a horse wrangler, a plumber, a railroad brakeman, a welder, and even a teacher! It is safe to say that Thomas Savage lived a very full and diverse life. His novel The Power of the Dog has an equally astonishing history. Published in 1967, it disappeared from bookstore shelves to the point of becoming completely unavailable. Thus, a sort of myth grew around the book until it became a "cult" classic, often referred to as "the best-kept literary secret in the USA"! In 2001, Thomas Savage's publisher decided to republish the book, bringing the then 86-year-old author back into the spotlight two years before his passing. The Power of the Dog is a harsh and violent rural novel that portrays 1920s America without the slightest compromise.