SHORT NIGHTS OF THE SHADOW CATCHER The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis

Edward Curtis was a self-taught photographer who rose to celebrity status in his field and eventually was driven to record the dying cultures of American Indian tribes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Yet he died penniless in Hollywood. This book chronicles his life, work, and genius. David Drummond offers an able reading that carries the material well, with no false emotion or histrionics. He doesn't let his tone vary too widely, yet he imparts clear emotion on the subjects dear to Curtis himself, especially the treatment of the Nez Perce tribe of the Northwest. An accompanying PDF includes samples of Curtis's striking works, and his entire multivolume work on American Indians is available online. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2012]