Wife No. 19 is the autobiography of Ann Eliza Young, one of the last wives taken by Brigham Young. She tells of the horrors of polygamy and the Reformation period of Utah. Her father was instrumental in the building of the wagons and handcarts that allowed the saints to cross the plains, and she gives detailed accounts of how that was handled. And of course, she gives an inside view of what Brigham Young was really like, in her perspective.
Ann Eliza Young is a gifted writer; her words will keep you reading well into the night with her witticisms and fantastic stories. She gives voice to women of polygamy in a way that will make you laugh as well as rage against the wrongdoers.
Wife No. 19 is a must-read for any person with interest in the history of Utah and the Mormons.