The Kingdom of Matthias

The Kingdom of Matthias chronicles a religious scandal that occurred in New York during the 1830s, centered around a self-proclaimed prophet named Robert Matthews who renamed himself Matthias. The book reconstructs the events leading up to Matthews' establishment of his religious commune and the social conditions that enabled his rise to power. The narrative follows multiple interconnected figures, including merchants, servants, and religious seekers caught up in Matthews' movement during the Second Great Awakening. Through detailed historical research, the authors trace how this obscure carpenter transformed himself into a charismatic leader who attracted followers from various social classes. The Kingdom of Matthias draws from court records, newspapers, and personal correspondence to document the complex relationships and power dynamics within the prophet's inner circle. The story connects to broader changes in American society, including religious revivalism, economic upheaval, and shifting gender roles in the early nineteenth century. The book reveals how religious extremism, sexual politics, and class tensions intersected in early American society. Through this focused historical episode, the authors explore fundamental questions about religious freedom, social reform, and the blurred boundaries between spiritual authority and personal power.

Readers find this historical account of a religious cult compelling for its examination of social upheaval in 1830s America. Many note how the authors connect Matthias's story to broader themes of class, gender, and religion during the Second Great Awakening. Readers appreciate: - Clear connections between personal stories and larger historical context - Deep research and primary source documentation - Insights into early American religious movements Common criticisms: - Narrative sometimes meanders with excess detail - Too much focus on peripheral characters - Dense academic writing style that can be hard to follow Notable reader comment: "Does an excellent job showing how economic and social instability created fertile ground for religious extremism" - Goodreads reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (764 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (51 ratings) Google Books: 3.5/5 (17 ratings) Several history professors note they use this book in courses on American religious history and antebellum society.

The Second Great Awakening and the Transcendentalists by Barry Hankins This history chronicles religious movements and charismatic leaders in early American society during the same period as Matthias's religious enterprise.

Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922 by Giles Milton The narrative follows the rise and fall of a messianic religious movement in the Ottoman Empire through personal accounts and historical documentation.

The Mormon People by Matthew Bowman The book traces the emergence of a new American religious movement and its prophet Joseph Smith during the same era as Matthias.

Satan's Servants by Paul Gillette and George Greenfield This historical account examines three 19th-century religious cult leaders and their followers in New York and New England.

Heaven's Gate by Benjamin E. Zeller The text investigates the formation and beliefs of an American religious movement through historical and sociological perspectives.

🔷 The Kingdom of Matthias details one of America's earliest recorded sex scandals, occurring in 1830s New York, involving religious leader Robert Matthews (who called himself Matthias) and his followers. 🔷 Co-author Sean Wilentz is a Bancroft Prize-winning historian who has also written extensively about Bob Dylan and served as historical advisor for Martin Scorsese's Dylan documentary. 🔷 The religious cult at the center of the book emerged during the Second Great Awakening, a period when numerous religious movements sprouted across America, including Mormonism and the Oneida Community. 🔷 The book's protagonist, Robert Matthews, was born in Scotland and worked as a carpenter before declaring himself a prophet and founding his Kingdom in 1832. 🔷 Many elements of Matthews' cult reflected broader social anxieties of the era, particularly concerns about changing gender roles and the rise of market capitalism in Jacksonian America.