kate @ pomelo sunshineLet me just begin by saying that I find polygamy fascinating. Really, I am totally enthralled by anything that has to do with fringe religions, cults and controversial religious practices. Big Love is one of my favorite TV shows, I love the insider’s view of life in a plural marriage. Honestly, seeing Barb, Nikki and Margene balance their lives as sister wives makes me temporarily think that that it wouldn’t be so bad. Then I remember how jealousy works and how great monogamy can be and think about how awful it would feel to love a man who loves you…and someone else and snap out of it.
Anyways, I am currently reading the book The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. It’s a work of historical fiction that tells the story of Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Young’s 19th wife who divorces him and goes on to become a crusader against polygamy in the 19th Century. At the same time, the book tells of a modern-day 19th wife who is accused of murder and her exiled son’s journey to help her. It is a fascinating book. My favorite part of the book so far has been the historical aspect. It gives an intimate view of the Mormon religion at its infancy and early years. It was so interesting to read in detail about the beginnings of Mormonism, polygamy in their religion and the lives of early Mormons including Joseph Smith and Brighman Young.
The modern-day story has been less gripping for me but still enjoyable. The young man in the story is a lost boy, kicked out of his polygamist sect for being spotted holding hands with one of his (many) sisters. His story brings insight to the lives of those who leave or are kicked out of FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) groups in this day and age.
I am toying with the idea of reading Ann Eliza Young’s actual memoir, Wife No. 19, obviously the basis of the historical sections of this book. To hear about the daily life of a sister wife in the early Mormon church is simply captivating. There were periods of time when they wouldn’t see their husband for weeks, they didn’t necessarily even live in the same town as their husband and other sister wives, many were all but forgotten after several years of marriage and given some financial but no emotional support from their husbands. It’s hard to imagine that women would put up with this but the book makes the strong point that it is how they were raised and all they knew and, more importantly, they believed – wholeheartedly – that this was their path to salvation. How could they question it without be compromising their beliefs and place in heaven?
I would definitely recommend this book if you have any interest in historical novels or religious fiction. Let me know if you want to borrow my copy!
The 19th Wife: Official Website for the book.
