Fanny Stenhouse

'Tell it All': the Ordeals of a Woman Against Polygamy Within the Mormon Church During the 19th Century Fanny Stenhouse

A 'first wife' tells the story of her life

The author of 'Wife No. 19,' Ann Young was in measure inspired in her own literary efforts and in her campaign for women's rights within the early Mormon church of the nineteenth century by the writings of this book's remarkable author. Fanny Stenhouse's views in opposition to pluralist marriage were, in fact, set before the public in print before the work of her-now possibly better known-contemporary. Indeed, the two women knew each other, and though they were joined in common cause, the experiences which caused them to stand up for the rights of women were quite different. There was a time when there were more Mormons in England and Scandinavia that there were in the State of Utah. The early followers of the ministry of Joseph Smith were drawn to the pure simplicity of the faith he espoused and Fanny Stenhouse, an Englishwoman, was one of their number in the days before there was any suggestion polygamous marriage in her church. So it was that Fanny made the long journey to America and began a life of privation, cruelty and oppression which eventually included her reluctant acquiescence to the introduction of the 'Celestial Order of Marriage' by the Mormon church under Brigham Young's leadership. Her account of her ordeals and those of her 'sisters' during those turbulent times makes gripping reading, and the courage and fortitude of the stand she took seems all the more incredible to modern readers given the time and place in which she lived. Eventually, Fanny and her husband left the life they both came to abhor and Fanny was encouraged to put her experiences into words-to quite literally, 'Tell it all.' Readers of Ann Young's famous book, 'Wife No 19,' will find much to interest them in the pages of this remarkable account and readers new to the subject will find this an engrossing account of one remarkable woman's courage in adversity. Available in softcover and hardback with dust jacket for collectors.