Faith, I tell them, is a mystery, elusive to many, and never easy to explain. Sweeping and lyrical, spellbinding and unforgettable, David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife combines epic historical fiction with a modern murder mystery to create a brilliant novel of literary suspense. It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of … powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of a family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how a young woman became a plural wife.
Soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death.
And as Ann Eliza’s narrative intertwines with that of Jordan’ s search, readers are pulled deeper into the mysteries of love and faith.
Praise for The 19th Wife
“This exquisite tour de force explores the dark roots of polygamy and its modern-day fruit in a renegade cult . . . Ebershoff brilliantly blends a haunting fictional narrative by Ann Eliza Young, the real-life 19th “rebel” wife of Mormon leader Brigham Young, with the equally compelling contemporary narrative of fictional Jordan Scott, a 20-year-old gay man. . . . With the topic of plural marriage and its shattering impact on women and powerless children in today’s headlines, this novel is essential reading for anyone seeking understanding of the subject.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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I did not care for this book
Thought it would be interesting, but the two time lines pulled me in and I had a hard time putting the book down.
One of the few times I have not finished a book, but this was just too boring.
Pretty interesting look at Polygamy tying in history to fiction.
The basic story was interesting and well-written. However, it jus led around from the past, and two present characters that made it unnecessarily confusing. Topic of polygamy and effects on children and women was enlightening.
Very compelling, we’ll written story
I couldn’t finish it. I’ve read other books on the subject and find it too disturbing. If you have not read about this topic, I do recommend 19th Wife as informative and and to be an interesting read.
A good double story.
I didn’t like it at all and only read a few pages before I totally deleted it.
If you are interested in LDS
It kept my interest. Interesting that certain problems with the polygamy society still exist.
the story is information, well writing and just very gripping.
I really liked it. Great historical fiction.
Get ready for a long read! While I typically enjoy the blend of historical and contemporary themes, this saga seemed disjointed and unnecessarily long. The book spans from the birth of polygamy to present day, bridging plural relationships with plural stories. The most fascinating part for me was the history, beginning with parents of Ann Eliza Young, who are enamored with the charismatic Joseph Smith. This sets the stage for their daughter’s fate. The most difficult parts of the book involved suppression and the emotional wounds to wives and to children, particularly to young boys who are banished because they become a threat to the marriage market. The author offers contrasting perspectives on polygamy from outsiders and insiders, but remains impartial about the ethics, morals and religious nuances of the practice himself.
Very interesting juxtaposing early Mormon time period with current day cult polygamy murder mystery. Not particularly entertaining but characters were well developed and story was quite original.
Vulgar & immoral! This book should come with a warning! I deleted & did not read this book beyond the first few pages. It’s trashy reading!
So very inaccurate and not factual at all.
This was a fascinating book. It’s one of my all-time favorites. Everyone should read this, male or female. It was a who done it combined with the story of The Mormons. I learned so much about Brigham Young and the early days of the Mormon Church.
Tragic but realistic look as roles played out in relationships, in that one gives too much, and the other games too much for years & years till there there is nothing left but withdrawal to have clear picture of a failed life. Sad for both to see so late who they are.
I was disappointed, I was looking for a novel, and found this was an old account. Some might like it, I however did not.