Wife No. 19

Wife No. 19 is the compelling, informative and emotionally fraught biography of Ann Eliza Young, a member and wife within the Mormon church during the 19th century.

Young sets out to chronicle a lengthy exposé of the various misdeeds she witnessed or was personally part of. She describes the character of the founder and prophet of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, in the context of his interpersonal relationships. The gradual emergence of polygamy, and its uptake among the higher ranking members of the church, is detailed.

Although the title highlights the polygamous relationships for which Mormonism gained notoriety, this book does not shy away from the other scandals or controversies. For example; the means via which Brigham Young dishonestly relieved his followers of their money, possessions and cattle via a number of schemes, and the frequent use of the local Native American populations as scapegoats.

The latter half of the book details the cruel manipulations which Ann Eliza Young endured at the hands of Brigham Young, who was the supreme leader of the church following the death of Joseph Smith. How she and Brigham's other wives endured the polygamy in which they were bound, often with great distress in having been taken from their original husbands at Brigham's personal proclamation, is painfully detailed.

Finally, we hear of Ann Eliza Young's escape from Mormonism. Although traumatized and upset by her polygamous experiences in the church, her faith in God remained steadfast. Resolutely, she embarked on a lengthy career informing others of the dark side of Mormon doctrines, and supporting women's rights, with this book being a component of her personal quest to inform and enlighten people.

As well as serving as an evocative and first-hand account of personal sufferings, Ann Eliza Young's book is also a good chronicle of the early history of Mormonism. She describes how Joseph Smith converted her family, the Webbs of Illinois, who were taken by his charismatic display of religious devotion. Thereafter she describes her family's life inside the Mormon church, and how the organisation gradually grew in influence and membership.