(79) The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Wednesday, August 13, 2008


I love reading a fictional book that inspires me to Google. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff is just the most recent book to send me to the search engine.

Ebershoff has taken a timely media subject, Polygamy, and has interwoven the factual history of the Mormon church with the fictional story of Jordan Scott and has come up with a book that you will find hard to put down.

Told in alternating chapters, The 19th Wife is the story of two different 19th wives. The first being Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young. The wife who ended up divorcing her husband & denouncing Polygamy. Google produced this website. http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/brighamyoungswives.htm. Although the research that Ebershoff did was obviously quite more extensive, the link will give you an idea of Ann Eliza's story.

The rest of Ebershoff's book revolves around the fictional story of a second 19th wife. Set in modern day Utah, Jordan Scott's mother is the 19th wife of a man powerful in his community. Jordan has long since been banished from the community & has been surviving on his own, in the real world, but when his mother, the 19th wife, is accused of murdering her husband, Jordan returns to help prove his mother's innocence.

While I am not quite done reading the book, I have read enough to know that The 19th Wife has enough "meat" to it , that I predict it will become a favorite of Book Clubs everywhere.
Anonymous said...

Hi
I couldn't locate your contact info so I'm giving this a try. Available for review: Booth's Sister, a novel inspired by the true story of Asia Booth, John Wilkes Booth's sister. By Civil War scholar Jane Singer. I'd love to send you a copy.
All best,
Deb Smith, Editorial, Bell Bridge Books, www.bellebooks.com

Lisa Mandina said...

This sounds really good from what you told me at the store as well as your review here. When I have time maybe I'll check it out.

Erin said...

This book has been on my wishlist since I saw it on Library Thing. Thanks for the review!

Charlotte's Web of Books said...

Erin, thank you!

Lisa, I think if you find the time to read it, you won't be disappointed!

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