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Book Review of The 19th Wife

The 19th Wife
The 19th Wife
Author: David Ebershoff
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 45 more book reviews


I found the historical background on Ann Eliza Young interesting with the caveat that the author wove fictional situations into the story. Honestly the intertwined sections that took place in the present day neither added nor subtracted from the book. Perhaps this might have been better served as a novella added to the end.I certainly learned something about the history of Mormonism and polygamy as practiced throughout the history of the "church." Like another reviewer I have some concerns as to the cult-like and secretive practices that survive today and so I have a hard time calling Mormonism a mainstream religion. Upon finishing the book, I came away with ever more concern for the fates of women and children who are members of polygamist sects and admire those organizations and people, both Mormon and non-Mormon, whose activism reaches out and helps those who leave such intolerable situations. All in all this book is a decent primer for those who are curious about Mormon history as long as the reader realizes that the historical accuracies are just structural with fictionalized persons and documents meant to give the work body.