Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher
The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
by Timothy Egan
Timothy Egan, a New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prize–winning author, tells the story of Edward Curtis, who devoted his life to preserving Native American people and culture. Curtis was charismatic, handsome, an avid mountaineer, and a celebrated portrait photographer—famous in his day. He moved in elite circles, befriending presidents, performers, and thinkers. In 1900, at age thirty-two, he abandoned that life to pursue a single mission: photograph and record the continent’s Indigenous peoples before their traditions vanished.
Over the next three decades he documented the stories and rituals of more than eighty tribes. His work demanded great patience—he spent ten years persuading the Hopi to let him witness their Snake Dance. The project transformed him from a detached observer into an outspoken advocate. Curtis produced over 40,000 photographs and 10,000 audio recordings and made the first narrative documentary film, creating the most comprehensive archive of Native American life.
Dimensions: 5.3”W x 8”H
370 pages. Reprint. Paperback. Publisher: HarperCollins. Made in USA.