Of all the western frontier figures who played a role in the lives of the Sioux, perhaps none was more intriguing, eccentric, or controversial than Father Francis M. Craft (1852–1920). Both fearless and compassionate, Father Craft ministered to the Sioux for two decades during the turbulent years after Sitting Bull surrendered at Fort Buford in 1881. After recovering from a severe injury at Wounded Knee in 1890, he struggled to found an Indian order of nuns and railed against government policies that, he contended, encouraged the corruption and degradation of Indians.

Thomas W. Foley's well-researched and balanced account of Father Craft's fascinating life examines his key role in Sioux and missionary history, his dedication to Indian causes, and his lifelong struggle against stereotypes and prejudice, which challenged many in the church and the federal government and led to accusations of insanity from his powerful critics.

Thomas W. Foley is a retired labor-personnel executive. He began transcribing Father Craft's journals in the 1960s. Following retirement in the 1990s, Foley and his wife retraced Father Craft's footsteps and conducted research in monasteries and archives from the Dakotas to Rome.

“The book is well written, thoroughly researched, nicely illustrated, and easily accessible to non-experts in the field.”—American Nineteenth Century History

“Foley's biography of the irascible and irrepressible Craft is well worth the read.”—Catholic Historical Review

“So compelling is Foley's larger-than-life portrait that readers may wish to see it brought to the movie screen.”—Great Plains Quarterly

“A good story, well told.”—St. Anthony Messenger

"This work is well researched. . . . It is a fascinating account of this particular character in the history of the early American church."—David Werthmann, Liguorian

"Foley's story is an important view of western history, especially for the last two decades of the nineteenth century."—John W. Bailey, The Journal of American History

"Foley deserves congratulations for choosing a fascinating subject and for diligent research, which includes a remarkable cache of Craft's personal items."—Todd Kerstetter, Nebraska History

"Thomas Foley's fortuitous discovery of Father Craft's journals and extensive research in church and university archives on two continents provides historians with an invaluable account of missionary work on the American frontier."—Dan Carnett, South Dakota History

"Foley’s attempt to present Father Craft on his own terms--and often in his own words—makes it possible for him to construct the kind of sensitive and sympathetic narrative that the best ethnohistorians employ to get at a people or person’s self-understanding. Indeed, Foley does an excellent job not only narrating Father Craft’s life, but Foley succeeds in presenting the extravagant, aggressive, and often violent personality and person that was Father Craft."—Benjamin L. Perez, H-Net Reviews