Wife No. 19

Wife No. 19, published in 1876, is a first-hand account of life within the Mormon church and plural marriage system by Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young. The memoir documents her experiences growing up in a Mormon family, her marriage to the Mormon leader, and her eventual departure from both the marriage and the church. The book combines personal narrative with historical documentation about the early Mormon church, its practices, and its leadership structure. Young provides details about the social dynamics between multiple wives, the religious doctrines used to justify polygamy, and the economic systems that supported these arrangements. Through her position as both insider and eventual outsider, Young creates a record of 19th century Mormon society that became influential in shaping public opinion about polygamy in the United States. The account includes observations about power structures, gender roles, and religious authority in frontier Utah. The memoir stands as both a historical document and a critique of institutional power, raising questions about the intersection of faith, gender, and personal autonomy in American religious movements.

Readers find this firsthand account of life in Brigham Young's household illuminating but sometimes sensationalized. Many point to the detailed descriptions of Mormon customs, polygamous family dynamics, and daily life in 1870s Utah as the book's strengths. Positive reviews highlight: - Personal insights into Mormon leadership - Documentation of women's experiences - Historical context of early Mormon settlements - First-person narrative style Common criticisms: - Melodramatic tone - Anti-Mormon bias - Repetitive passages - Questions about accuracy of some claims Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (300+ ratings) Several reviewers note the book needs to be read with historical context, as one Amazon reviewer states: "While clearly written with an agenda, it provides valuable perspective on this period." Goodreads reviewers frequently mention the book's importance as a historical document while acknowledging potential embellishments in the narrative.

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The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner A memoir recounts the author's childhood in a polygamous Mormon colony in Mexico and her mother's struggles to keep her children safe.

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📚 Ann Eliza Young was Brigham Young's 19th wife before divorcing him in 1873 and becoming one of the first prominent critics of polygamy in Mormon culture 🗣️ The book's publication in 1876 helped spark national outrage about polygamy and contributed to the passage of the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882 ✍️ The author went on a successful nationwide speaking tour after the book's release, drawing huge crowds eager to hear her first-hand account of life as a Mormon plural wife 🏛️ Ann Eliza Young filed a high-profile divorce lawsuit against Brigham Young, demanding $200,000 in alimony and making national headlines 📖 The memoir includes detailed descriptions of the secret temple ceremonies and rituals of 19th-century Mormonism that had never before been revealed to the general public