A landmark history — the sweeping story of the enslavement of tens of thousands of Indians across America; from the time of the conquistadors up to the early 20th century Since the time of Columbus; Indian slavery was illegal in much of the American continent. Yet; as Andrés Reséndez illuminates in his myth-shattering The Other Slavery; it was practiced for centuries as an open secret. There was no abolitionist movement to protect the tens of thousands of natives who were kidnapped and enslaved by the conquistadors; then forced to descend into the “mouth of hell†of eighteenth-century silver mines or; later; made to serve as domestics for Mormon settlers and rich Anglos. Reséndez builds the incisive case that it was mass slavery; more than epidemics; that decimated Indian populations across North America. New evidence; including testimonies of courageous priests; rapacious merchants; Indian captives; and Anglo colonists; sheds light too on Indian enslavement of other Indians — as what started as a European business passed into the hands of indigenous operators and spread like wildfire across vast tracts of the American Southwest. The Other Slavery reveals nothing less than a key missing piece of American history. For over two centuries we have fought over; abolished; and tried to come to grips with African-American slavery. It is time for the West to confront an entirely separate; equally devastating enslavement we have long failed truly to see.
#20655 in Books Mariner Books 2013-08-06 2013-08-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .99 x 5.31l; .65 #File Name: 0544102762384 pages
Review
279 of 288 people found the following review helpful. Captivating biography of an American originalBy Pam GearhartI had heard of Edward Curtis but knew only that he was a photographer; and that he took many pictures of American Indians in the early 1900's. That should make me ashamed; since I lived in Seattle; Curtis's home town; for many years.Timothy Egan's book gives a detailed; balanced look at Curtis's life and his life's work: Publication of a 20-volume look at American Indian communities in the early 20th century. Just thinking about such a venture makes me tired; but Curtis was tireless (hence the "short nights" in the title -- he rarely slept). The series would include not just photographs but a lexicon preserving languages; and in the making of this Curtis would make film and audio records of songs and ceremonies that would have been lost forever.His ambition seems quite unrealistic; almost delusional; to someone from present day. Traveling thousands of miles with bulky photographic equipment; in unmapped territory without the benefit of conveniences we take for granted -- GPS; airplanes; cell phones; overnight delivery; fax machines. He and his team made a photographic and textual record that has never been equalled; and probably never will be. And during this time he made a movie and developed a stage presentation that wowed even the most sophisticated audiences.Even if you're not particularly interested in photography or American Indians; Egan's book is fascinating as a look at the early 1900's; movers and shakers; people like J. P. Morgan and Theodore Roosevelt. Egan's writing is brisk; his descriptions evocative. It never bogged down; even when things weren't going well for Curtis.The book is full of flavor and color; success and hardship; but more important; Egan; through showing us Curtis's life and his work; has brought home the devastation and loss of American's First People. Destruction and loss of their cultures has hurt every American; not just Indians. That's what I took from this book.The epilogue was heartening; and it's also heartening that Curtis knew the value of his work; even if it wasn't fully realized until after he was dead.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. EPIC. PERIOD!!!By William DahlIt’s terribly difficult after finishing the 6th in a series of Timothy Egan’s books to declare a favorite. Yet; Egan’s Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis – is -well – it broke my heart.The life and times of “fanatical†(self described) artists like Edward Curtis are rarely full of fulfilling; float you on air happiness. Yet; his life had many interactions and endorsements by the day’s rich and famous (Teddy Roosevelt and J. Pierpont Morgan (to name two - not that this makes any difference in terms of Curtis's immortal contributions).A man who attempted to capture the remnants of an ever encroaching genocide of the remaining inhabitants of the western tribes of Native Americans is a noble story. And noble is the way Egan tells it. Yet; it leaves you (the trajectory of Curtis’s life) unfulfilled…as the life stories of so many artists do.How Egan finds these tales and has the uncanny ability to weave story in and around the real-life characters he portrays – is – well – a mysterious literary talent that I’m unsure if even he could describe it adequately. The book; story; prose; research and Egan’s writing just make you salivate for the next page.This is an unequivocal FIVE STAR work (which I don’t attribute to most literature I read). It is a treasure – just as the life of Edward Curtis and his enduring work was/is. I am really glad I read this book. You will be too.I am now on to my 7th Egan book in the past three weeks (which I NEVER do); The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became An American Hero (2016).You simply CANNOT understand the American West without Reading Timothy Egan…PERIOD.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. RivetingBy Linda YoderI had put this aside for some time; but once I started it; I couldn't put it down. Curtis was only a dim footnote in my study of photography; but what an amazing man; and what technical perfection he achieved; all while capturing lost languages and histories of the tribes whose few remaining members finally opened up to him. He began his work with nothing but a "big idea;" and ended up; after his death; being recognized for his brilliant - and costly to him - life's work. This book is a superb account of Curtis's life and work. Highly recommended.
