Book Review of the 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

This book interwines two stories. The first is the story of Ann Eliza Young who became the 19th wife of Brigham Young, leader of the Mormons after Joseph Smith. Eventually she divorced him and lectured around the country telling her story in hopes of ending polygamy in the United States. The other is a modern day story of Jordan Scott, who was thrown out of a breakway sect of Mormonism that still practices polygamy. Jordan's mother has been accused of murdering Jordan's father, and Jordan is trying to find a way to prove her innocence. This book gave an excellent depiction of the early history of Mormonism in this country and the horrors of polygamy. It also opened my eyes to the fact that polygamy is still occuring in breakaway sects (not recogonized by the official Mormon Church, The Church of Latter Day Saints) in this country today, but not practiced within the official Mormon Church, The Church of Latter Day Saints. They stopped practicing polygamy in 1890.

Joanne, Staff