Native Nations: First North Americans as Seen by Edward Curtis

What a beautiful book this is! Everyone that looks at it has trouble putting it down. Sure, some of the politically correct will say that Curtis exploited the Native American and that scenes at times appear posed-I hate to tell you this but that was the ways things were at the time-period. Just the fact that Curtis traveled to these places at that point in history is a marvel. His images are magical at times and I thank him for his artistry. I am sure that the people in his portraits were willing participants and have gained an immortality of sorts with the beauty of his work. Enjoy this book for what it is-not what you think it should have been.

Regardless of your personal feelings about Edward Curtis as a photographer of native Americans, the quality of his photography is superb and the reproductions in this compilation are outstanding. Instead of using the conventional halftone printing technique, the publisher used the digital Agfa CristalRaster(TM) technology which produces reproductions of exceptional clarity and sharpness. This volume is far superior, technically, to the recently released compilation entitled "Sacred Legacy" by the same authors and if you only want one book for your library "Native Nations" is the one.

Edward S. Curtis' work is absolutely beautiful, his work shows his in dept knowledge, respect and affection to his subjects. This edition featured Mr. Curtis' significant works, the reproductions of the photos were outstanding in every detail. I highly recommend this book and is a must for evry photographer's and anthropologist's library

I had an opportunity to learn of this book through a documentary film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Director Anne Makepeace tells the incredible story of how Edward Curtis devoted his life's work to writing and producing photographs for 20 volumes on 88 American Indian tribes. I expect that few anthropological studies of this scope and depth exist. His respect and deep knowledge of the Indian culture comes through clearly. He went largely unrecognized during his life time-a Van Gogh-like figure. His work is a must for any serious student of anthropology or history.