Ann eliza young september, 1844 december 7, 1917 also known as ann eliza webb. The 19th wife volusia county public library overdrive. The 19th wife book jefferson county public library. Ebershoffs book is a novel which parallels the stories of a modernday fictional 19th wife of a polygamist and the historical 19th wife of brigham young, who. The 19th wife novel does touch on a true story by incorporating antipolygamy activist ann eliza young as a character, but i have a feeling the lifetime movie may have to cut out references to the historical figure due to time. Inspired by the life of ann eliza young, the novel intertwines a historical narrative with a modernday murder mystery. Ebershoff the danish girl brilliantly blends a haunting fictional narrative by ann eliza young, the reallife 19th rebel wife of mormon leader brigham young, with the equally compelling contemporary narrative of fictional jordan scott, a 20yearold gay man whose mother, another 19th wife, is accused of murdering his polygamist father. It is 1875, and ann eliza young has recently separated from her powerful. One is the real historical figure ann eliza young, who was decades younger. What are your impressions of ann eliza young, and how do those impressions change over the course of the novel.
Polygamy was terminated by the mormons in 1890, but finally banned in 1904 by the threat of excommunication, though not for any existing polygamous. She spoke out against the suppression of women and was an advocate for womens rights during the 19th century. As a first wife in a devout mormon family, ann eliza s mother had believed in the. At the age of 24, ann eliza webb was forced into marriage with brigham young, her spiritual leader and the 67yearold president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Faith, i tell them, is a mystery, elusive to many, and never easy to explain. Ann eliza wast 19th wife of the prophet and was raised completely in the bonds of mormonism. David ebershoff intertwines a modernday murder mystery with a sweeping historical saga. Inspired by the life of ann eliza young, the novel intertwines a historical narrative with a modernday murder. Many latterday saints felt it unfairly portrayed brigham and the mormon church.
Brigham young s wives and his divorce from ann eliza webb. In 1868 brigham young, at age sixtyseven, married ann eliza webb, an attractive twentyfour year old divorcee with two children. The 19th wife jefferson county public library overdrive. But, as if hypnotized, her glance kept returning to his as he preached. Antipolygamists, however, believed the book revealed the degradations of polygamy to the american public more powerfully than ever before. It is 1875, and ann eliza young has recently separated from her powerful husband, brigham young, prophet and leader of the mormon church. Sweeping and lyrical, spellbinding and unforgettable, david ebershoffs the 19th wife combines epic historical fiction with a modern murder mystery to create a brilliant novel of literary suspense. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. Brigham youngs wives and his divorce from ann eliza webb. The steady eyes would always bring mine back, she said. She was the 19th, or possibly 27th, wife of brigham young, the second president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, having married him when he was 67 years old and she was a 24 year old divorcee with two children. Ann eliza young september, 18441925 also known as ann eliza webb dee young denning was one of brigham youngs fiftyfive wives and later a critic of polygamy. Based on your reading of the 19th wife, what kind of memoirist do you think the real ann eliza young was.
Chapters depicting the story of ann eliza young s life in the 19th century are skillfully braided into jordans tale. This book was an incredible eyeopener to the beginning of mormonism and the wretched lies that kept thousands of people in bondage to the whims of their prophet, brigham young. Ann eliza young books list of books by author ann eliza. Ann eliza young nee webb was one of brigham young s many wives and later a critic of polygamy and a u. A television movie adaptation aired on lifetime on september, 2010, starring matt czuchry, patricia wettig, and chyler leigh plot summary. After rebelling from mormon teachings, rejecting the idea that god intends men to have plural marriages, and divorcing her husband, ann eliza toured the country, speaking, writing, and campaigning to end. Ann eliza young, born in 1844, was the 19th wife of brigham young, wellknown leader of the early mormon church and husband to 55 women. Ann eliza young was well the 19th wife of brigham young, the second prophet of the mormon church, the supposed hero who led his chosen people, like moses of old, through the frontierlands of america in the middle of the 19th century, to finally settle in utah. Expelled and an outcast, ann eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the united states.
Although ann eliza later called herself youngs wife no. But ebershoff intersperses jordans narrative with another storylinethat of ann eliza young, brigham youngs 19th wife. The 19th wife on apple books apple books apple apple. Ann eliza young, 19th wife of brigham young library of congress. Ann eliza young was one of the many wives of brigham young, a mormon elder. Beckylyn and her husband were members of a radical breakaway mormon sect. Sample of a divorce certificate from a plural wife stenhouse.
Fact and fiction coexist in the 19th wife books portland mercury. She was the 19th, or possibly 27th, wife of brigham young, the second president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, having married him when he was 67 years old and she was a 24 year old. See all books authored by ann eliza young, including wife, no. People 4 out of 4 stars it is 1875, and ann eliza young has recently separated from her powerful husband, brigham young, prophet and leader of the mormon church. In 1875, ann eliza young wrote a bestselling and controversial memoir, wife no. Far from bringing him closer to his characters, it muffles his novels drama. The 19th wife intertwines ann elizas story with that of jordan scott. The novel centers around the story of ann eliza young, who, in the 1800s, was married to the mormon profit and leader brigham young.
The lifetime movie the 19th wife, based on the novel of the same name by david ebershoff, isnt exactly based on a true story. The true story behind david ebershoffs bestseller the 19th wife. Ann eliza young september, 1844 december 7, 1917 also known as ann eliza webb dee young denning was one of brigham young s fiftyfive wives and later a critic of polygamy. Ann eliza considered herself young s 19th living, conjugal wife, counting those who stayed with him in the beehive and those he had established nearby in the multigabled lion house or other living quarters. A rich account of her familys polygamous history is revealed, including how both she and her mother became plural. The twentyseventh wife and for david ebershoffs 2008 novel the 19th wife.
Ann eliza young general discussions mormon dialogue. She was forced into the marriage after steadfastly refusing, for a long time. Young escorted ann eliza home to her fathers house after the wedding ceremony and slept alone in his room. The 19th wife by david ebershoff the new york times. As he says in his authors note, the real ann eliza young actually wrote two memoirs. This comment is directed to all believing, questioning or. I first heard about ann eliza young several years ago while editing a book for the modern library.