In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith
by Compton, Todd
- New
- Hardcover
- Condition
- New/new
- ISBN 10
- 156085085X
- ISBN 13
- 9781560850854
- Seller
-
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
2 Copies Available from This Seller
(You can add more at checkout.)
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 2006. Later printing. Hardcover. New/new. 788pp. Octavo [23.5 cm] Red boards. New in like jacket. In publisher's shrinkwrap. Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirty-three women married Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. These were passionate relationships which also had some longevity, except in cases such as that of two young sisters, one of whom was discovered by Joseph's first wife, Emma, in a locked bedroom with the prophet. Emma remained a steadfast opponent of polygamy throughout her life.
The majority of Smith's wives were younger than he, and one-third were between fourteen and twenty years of age. Another third were already married, and some of the husbands served as witnesses at their own wife's polyandrous wedding. In addition, some of the wives hinted that they bore Smith children—most notably Sylvia Sessions's daughter Josephine—although the children carried their stepfather's surname.
For all of Smith's wives, the experience of being secretly married was socially isolating, emotionally draining, and sexually frustrating. Despite the spiritual and temporal benefits, which they acknowledged, they found their faith tested to the limit of its endurance. After Smith's death in 1844, their lives became even more "lonely and desolate." One even joined a convent. The majority were appropriated by Smith's successors, based on the Old Testament law of the Levirate, and had children by them, though they considered these guardianships unsatisfying. Others stayed in the Midwest and remarried, while one moved to California. But all considered their lives unhappy, except for the joy they found in their children and grandchildren.
The majority of Smith's wives were younger than he, and one-third were between fourteen and twenty years of age. Another third were already married, and some of the husbands served as witnesses at their own wife's polyandrous wedding. In addition, some of the wives hinted that they bore Smith children—most notably Sylvia Sessions's daughter Josephine—although the children carried their stepfather's surname.
For all of Smith's wives, the experience of being secretly married was socially isolating, emotionally draining, and sexually frustrating. Despite the spiritual and temporal benefits, which they acknowledged, they found their faith tested to the limit of its endurance. After Smith's death in 1844, their lives became even more "lonely and desolate." One even joined a convent. The majority were appropriated by Smith's successors, based on the Old Testament law of the Levirate, and had children by them, though they considered these guardianships unsatisfying. Others stayed in the Midwest and remarried, while one moved to California. But all considered their lives unhappy, except for the joy they found in their children and grandchildren.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 3537
- Title
- In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith
- Author
- Compton, Todd
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- New New
- Jacket Condition
- new
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Edition
- Later printing
- ISBN 10
- 156085085X
- ISBN 13
- 9781560850854
- Publisher
- Signature Books
- Place of Publication
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Date Published
- 2006
- Keywords
- Utah and the Mormons; Joseph Smith; Polygamy; LDS; Modern First Editions; Plural marriage; Mormon history; New; Joseph Smith
Terms of Sale
Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA
Please note: We cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas via USPS Media Mail. Please reach out to us directly via phone or email if you are ordering a Christmas gift with time sensitive delivery so that we can make sure your package arrives on time.
All items subject to prior sale. Orders filled upon payment. We accept check, money order, PayPal (books@kensandersbooks.com), and credit card (Visa/MC/AmEx/Discover). Billing terms will be arranged for institutions according to their needs, and for customers who have established credit with our company. All items are guaranteed authentic and as described, autographed items are guaranteed indefinitely. Items may be returned for a full refund within ten days of receipt, prior notification requested.
About the Seller
Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA
Biblio member since 2006
Salt Lake City, Utah
About Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA
Ken Sanders Rare Books is a full service antiquarian bookshop in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. We carry an ever-changing inventory of art, ephemera, maps, photography, and postcards in addition to a vast selection of used and rare books along with a few new books. We actively purchase and appraise books in all fields.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...