The 19th Wife

David Ebershoff

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polygamy impact

murder mystery

19th century mormon frontier

contemporary polygamist enclaves

ann eliza young

jordan scott

rebellion against polygamy

love and family

destructive effects of polygamy

historical and contemporary narrative

multiple voices in writing

dual narrative structure

balance of pacing

depth and resilience in characters

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff alternates between two narratives: one set in the present day involving a murder mystery in a polygamist colony where the 19th wife is accused of killing her husband, and the other set in the 19th century focusing on Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young, who rebelled against polygamy and fought for the ban on the practice. The book skillfully weaves together these two storylines, exploring themes of love, family, faith, and the destructive effects of polygamy on individuals and society.

Characters:

Characters range from Jordan Scott, a sympathetic contemporary figure, to Ann Eliza Young, a historical figure portrayed with depth and resilience, each navigating the challenges posed by their circumstances.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is a blend of historical narrative and contemporary fiction, utilizing multiple voices and formats to present the story.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative combines the historical struggle of Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young, with the contemporary murder mystery of Jordan Scott, whose mother is accused of killing her husband in a polygamous community.

Setting:

The novel traverses both the 19th-century Mormon frontier and modern-day Utah's polygamist enclaves, highlighting the stark contrasts in lifestyle and beliefs.

Pacing:

The pacing balances well between action in the contemporary storyline and the sometimes slower historical exposition.

Among the many questions I have encountered since my apostasy from the Mormon Church, none arises with more confusion, or mystification, than as to why I ever joined the Latter-day Saints. The America...

Notes:

The novel intertwines the story of Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young, with a modern murder mystery involving a member of a polygamist sect.

Ann Eliza Young was born into a polygamous family and later became an outspoken critic of the practice, contributing to its eventual banning in the Mormon Church.

Jordan Scott, the modern character in the novel, is a 'lost boy' who was excommunicated from his community and left to fend for himself at age 14.

The story highlights the impact of polygamy on women and children in both historical and modern contexts, emphasizing themes of love, abuse, and spiritual belief.

Ebershoff uses multiple narrative styles, including fictionalized memoirs, letters, and newspaper articles, to tell the two interrelated stories.

The modern-day storyline addresses contemporary issues within polygamist communities, echoing real-life events such as the Texas ranch raid involving the FLDS sect.

The book was well-researched, with the author providing an author's note clarifying the fictional elements and his sources, increasing its authenticity.

Ebershoff's novel portrays the complexity of faith and the harsh realities faced by those living under fundamentalist beliefs.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers may include discussions of polygamy, emotional abuse, childhood abandonment, and themes surrounding murder.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements present primarily in the contemporary storyline involving Jordan Scott.

From The Publisher:

It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her 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 her family's polygamous history is revealed, including how both she and her mother became plural wives. Yet 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, family, and faith.

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Reader Stats (11):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (2)

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About the Author:

David Ebershoff is the author of the novels The 19th Wife, Pasadena, and The Danish Girl, and a short-story collection, The Rose City. His fiction has won a number of awards, including the Rosenthal Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Ferro-Grumley…

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