The Viper on the Hearth: Mormons, Myths, and the Construction of Heresy

The Viper on the Hearth examines how 19th century American literature and popular media constructed Mormonism as a dangerous religious movement. Through analysis of novels, newspapers, and other texts from 1830-1900, Terryl Givens traces the evolution of anti-Mormon rhetoric and stereotypes. The book chronicles how Mormon theology and practices became viewed as threats to American democracy and Christian values. Givens analyzes specific works of fiction that portrayed Mormons as violent fanatics and oppressors, showing how these narratives shaped public perception. The research draws from extensive primary sources including fiction, newspapers, political cartoons, and historical documents from the period. Interviews and correspondence between authors, publishers, and critics reveal the cultural forces that influenced anti-Mormon literature. This scholarly work provides insights into how societies create and perpetuate religious prejudice through popular media. The mechanisms of "othering" religious minorities outlined in the book remain relevant to modern discourse about religious tolerance and cultural identity.

Readers appreciate Givens' academic analysis of anti-Mormon literature and media portrayals through a cultural studies lens. Multiple reviewers noted the book's thorough examination of how Mormons became "the Other" in American society. Positive reviews mention: - Clear documentation of historical sources - Insights into how religious minorities face discrimination - Analysis of 19th century literary treatment of Mormons Common criticisms: - Dense academic language makes it less accessible - Too theoretical for general readers - Limited discussion of modern Mormon representation Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (86 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (15 reviews) One reviewer on Goodreads called it "brilliant but challenging reading." An Amazon reviewer noted it "explains anti-Mormon bias better than any other source." Several readers mentioned struggling with the academic tone but finding value in the historical analysis.

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Religion of a Different Color by W. Paul Reeve The book traces how Mormons were racialized in nineteenth-century America and how this categorization influenced their path to mainstream acceptance.

The Mormon Question by Sarah Barringer Gordon This legal history explores the constitutional battles over Mormon polygamy and their impact on American concepts of religious freedom and marriage.

The Protestant Establishment by E. Digby Baltzell The text analyzes how religious outsiders navigated their way into American social acceptance through institutional and cultural changes.

American Crucifixion by Alex Beam This historical account examines the murder of Joseph Smith and its aftermath as a lens for understanding religious persecution in nineteenth-century America.

🔹 Terryl Givens wrote this groundbreaking work while teaching at the University of Richmond, where he became one of the first non-Mormon scholars to extensively study anti-Mormon literature from a literary and cultural studies perspective. 🔹 The book's title comes from a line in an 1880s anti-Mormon novel, referring to Mormonism as a dangerous serpent threatening American domestic life and values. 🔹 The first edition was published in 1997, but Givens substantially revised and expanded it for a 2013 edition to address how Mormon representation in media and literature evolved during the "Mormon Moment" of the early 2000s. 🔹 The work examines how 19th-century writers often portrayed Mormons as a "foreign" race rather than merely a different religion, using many of the same literary techniques employed in anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic literature of the era. 🔹 Despite focusing on historical anti-Mormon sentiment, the book gained renewed attention during Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign as journalists and scholars sought to understand America's complex relationship with Mormonism.