Edward Curtis, driven by a dream

St. Paul, Minn. — Edward Curtis was driven by a dream. The American photographer thought big and he set out to document the North American Indian, and made it his life's work. Curtis was born right after the Civil War.

Actually, he first made photos professionally in Saint Paul, as a photographer's apprentice in the 1880's. His work gained him an entree with some of the most famous names of his time, Teddy Roosevelt and JP Morgan. But it also became an obsession for which he paid a price.

Author Alan Cheuse thinks that Edward Curtis' life is the stuff of fiction. He's written a new novel based on Curtis' life called "To Catch the Lightning." Cheuse will be in the Twin Cities Saturday as part of the Twin Cities Book Festival.

When you hear his voice, you'll know instantly that he is the man who has brought us book reviews for as long as I can remember here on All Things Considered. Tom Crann talked with Cheause about his new book and Edward Curtis.

Click the additional audio for more of Tom's interview with Alan Cheuse.