Aaron John Curtis — Old School Indian

Aaron John Curtis discusses *Old School Indian*, an irreverent coming-of-middle-age novel about Abe Jacobs, a Kanien’kehá:ka man from Ahkwesáhsne who left the reservation at 18 and built a life around poetry, love, and an open marriage. At 43, after being diagnosed with a rare illness that doctors believe may be fatal, Abe returns home while fleeing both his uncertain future and a marriage near collapse. There, his Great Uncle Budge—a skeptical-looking healer and recovering alcoholic with a taste for punk T-shirts—guides him toward a difficult confrontation with his past.

The novel follows Abe’s attempt to understand himself, his family, and the lasting effects of history and culture as he considers whether healing, intimacy, and a renewed life are still possible. Curtis is an enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and has served as a judge for several literary prizes, including the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance prizes, the 2019 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, and the 2021 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Since 2004, he has been quartermaster at Books & Books in Miami, where he lives.

When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Showtimes: 7:00pm

Tickets: Free

Seating: First come, first served.

Venue: Politics and Prose at Union Market, 1324 4th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Category: Fiction and poetry

Ages: Not specified.

Run time: Not specified.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com. The venue ideally asks for requests at least one week before the event, but will make an effort to accommodate requests submitted up to the event time.

Related book: *Old School Indian: A Novel* by Aaron John Curtis is available as a $18 paperback. The book’s ISBN is 9781638934189, and its listed publication date is October 27, 2026.