' evinces a respect for the difficult mysteries of faith as well as the importance of the family, however that might be defined. “Part history class, part expose, part love story, The 19th Wife is thoroughly addictive….Ebershoff not only imparts a valuable lesson on religion, but spins a compelling tale that makes readers question the power of faith and what we believe and why.” It offers historical and contemporary perspective on one of the world's fastest-growing religions and one of its oldest practices, and in the process it does that thing all good novels do: It entertains us.'

' The 19th Wife is a big book, in every sense of the word. It sweeps across time and delves deeply into a world long hidden from sight. We are told, for instance, of Brigham Young's ban on dramas that romanticized monogamous love at his community theatre as one of Young's followers says, 'I ain't sitting through no play where a man makes such a cussed fuss over one woman.' Ebershoff demonstrates abundant virtuosity, as he convincingly inhabits the voices of both a nineteenth-century Mormon wife and a contemporary gay youth excommunicated from the church, while also managing to say something about the mysterious power of faith.' Unfolding through an impressive variety of narrative forms-Wikipedia entries, academic research papers, newspaper opinion pieces-the stories include fascinating historical details. The first recounts Brigham Young's expulsion of one of his wives, Ann Eliza, from the Mormon Church the second is a modern-day murder mystery set in a polygamous compound in Utah.

' This ambitious third novel tells two parallel stories of polygamy. Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Publishers Weekly

Is a New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Publishers Weekly, Contra Costa Times, and Independent Booksellers Bestsellerįinalist for the Utah Book Award and the Ferro-Grumley Award

The 19th wife by david ebershoff