A riveting memoir of life inside one of North America's most notorious polygamous cults.
Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy
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From the Back Cover
A RIVETING MEMOIR OF LIFE INSIDE ONE OF NORTH AMERICA’S
MOST NOTORIOUS POLYGAMOUS CULTS
MOST NOTORIOUS POLYGAMOUS CULTS
She had no choice in the matter—none of the girls did. Her mission was to give birth to and raise many children in devoted service to a shared husband. Susan was fifteen years old when she became the sixth wife of Verlan LeBaron, one of the leaders of a rogue Mormon cult, who was engaged in a blood feud with his brother that from 1972 to 1988 claimed up to two dozen lives.
In this gripping and eloquent book, Susan Ray Schmidt tells the story of growing up on the inside and of her ultimate escape with her children from an oppressive and violent life. Delving more deeply into this mysterious underworld than any previous work, Favorite Wife is a powerful account of the affairs of the heart, coming of age under exceptional circumstances, and the tough choices that are sometimes painfully necessary to preserve human dignity.
In this gripping and eloquent book, Susan Ray Schmidt tells the story of growing up on the inside and of her ultimate escape with her children from an oppressive and violent life. Delving more deeply into this mysterious underworld than any previous work, Favorite Wife is a powerful account of the affairs of the heart, coming of age under exceptional circumstances, and the tough choices that are sometimes painfully necessary to preserve human dignity.
About the Author
Susan Ray Schmidt was once a member of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times and the child-bride of polygamist Verlan LeBaron in Colonia LeBaron in Mexico. After eight years of marriage, she left her husband and fled with her five children back to America. She remarried three years later.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
124 of 128 people found the following review helpful
By J. Martin
Format:Paperback
I would consider this book "part 2". The first polygamist book I ever read was "Shattered Dreams", by Irene Spencer. She was the second wife in a polygamist marriage. When I found out that this book was written by Irene's husband's "favorite wife", I got it as quick as I could! Both are excellent books, well worth the read. This is a lifestyle that you can hear about, but will never start to understand until you can put yourself in their shoes. This book will be hard to put down!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
*Possible spoilers, but this is non-fiction.*
This was an interesting book. It offered a very different perspective from the other books on polygamy that I'd read.
Susan is a young girl growing up in a polygamous community in Mexico. She is very treasured by her family and when she as a dream at fourteen that reveals to her the identity of her future husband, it is readily accepted by all. So much in fact, that she marries him a year later. The man is Varlan, the brother of the prophet of their sect. He already has five wives, but so charms Susan that she believes it is God's will that she marry him. His brother tries to get her for himself but she eventually sees how insidious he really is and goes with Verlan instead.
The rest of the book deals with her hardships of being a multiple wife and just her struggles in living as well. Verlan is not able to properly care for his large family and often the family lacks food, decent lodging, and good clothes. Not helping this is the fact that a couple babies are born every year adding to the mouths to feed. Susan herself goes on to have 5 before she even reaches her mid-twenties.
This book had an interesting perspective because for the majority of the time Susan liked her religion and being a polygamous wife. Sure she didn't like sharing all the time but when it came down to it she did believe in the lifestyle. It wasn't until a bit later when she had had several kids already that she started to become disillusioned. A lot of that too I think stemmed from the hardships she was living and the poverty.
There is one thing that I kind of wondered about though. The subtitle of the book is Trapped in Polygamy, but really, compared to some of the other stories I've read, Susan was able to get out very easy once she made up her mind to do it. She was delayed by pregnancy a couple times but when she truly wanted out, there were no death threats, no trouble with local law, her husband finally accepted. It was a lot different than some of the women who have tried to escape those types of relationships in the United States. I'm not downplaying her struggles, but it amazes me that being in a different country even it still wasn't that hard for her to get out.
The book does end on a good note with her leaving. She also thoughtfully includes a chapter that lets us know where the rest of the sect is and how they ended up. It is interesting to note that a lot of Verlan's wives ended up leaving. Once again, a fascinating subject and I'm sure I'll be hitting the books to find out more on the topic.
His Favorite Wife: Trapped in Polygamy
Copyright 2006
418 pages plus a photo album
This was an interesting book. It offered a very different perspective from the other books on polygamy that I'd read.
Susan is a young girl growing up in a polygamous community in Mexico. She is very treasured by her family and when she as a dream at fourteen that reveals to her the identity of her future husband, it is readily accepted by all. So much in fact, that she marries him a year later. The man is Varlan, the brother of the prophet of their sect. He already has five wives, but so charms Susan that she believes it is God's will that she marry him. His brother tries to get her for himself but she eventually sees how insidious he really is and goes with Verlan instead.
The rest of the book deals with her hardships of being a multiple wife and just her struggles in living as well. Verlan is not able to properly care for his large family and often the family lacks food, decent lodging, and good clothes. Not helping this is the fact that a couple babies are born every year adding to the mouths to feed. Susan herself goes on to have 5 before she even reaches her mid-twenties.
This book had an interesting perspective because for the majority of the time Susan liked her religion and being a polygamous wife. Sure she didn't like sharing all the time but when it came down to it she did believe in the lifestyle. It wasn't until a bit later when she had had several kids already that she started to become disillusioned. A lot of that too I think stemmed from the hardships she was living and the poverty.
There is one thing that I kind of wondered about though. The subtitle of the book is Trapped in Polygamy, but really, compared to some of the other stories I've read, Susan was able to get out very easy once she made up her mind to do it. She was delayed by pregnancy a couple times but when she truly wanted out, there were no death threats, no trouble with local law, her husband finally accepted. It was a lot different than some of the women who have tried to escape those types of relationships in the United States. I'm not downplaying her struggles, but it amazes me that being in a different country even it still wasn't that hard for her to get out.
The book does end on a good note with her leaving. She also thoughtfully includes a chapter that lets us know where the rest of the sect is and how they ended up. It is interesting to note that a lot of Verlan's wives ended up leaving. Once again, a fascinating subject and I'm sure I'll be hitting the books to find out more on the topic.
His Favorite Wife: Trapped in Polygamy
Copyright 2006
418 pages plus a photo album
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Ys
Format:Paperback
What a great book! Susan's story is amazing and her strength encouraging. After getting through the first part of the book, I found myself finding any time possible to read a few more pages. After finishing the book I have continued to think about her past world and all that was described. It definately leaves you wanting more and with many questions about the colony she and world she came from. Worth the read as long as a friend reads it too so that you can discuss the book together.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
Very interesting read. Was not at all surprised on how she felt the entire time being married to one man and having several sister wives. Read more
Published 1 day ago by nmphall
4.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible story!
The book was an eye-opening look into the world of polygamy. An interesting and somewhat sad story about a young woman living in a pitiful situation. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Debra S. Carlson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Through the Wringer
Wow! I just finished reading this book and feel I've been forced through an emotional wringer. Susan's life story is heartbreaking. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Sheila B. Edney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting
This book was great! An interesting and firsthand account of how life was like as a woman in a polygamous marriage. Definitely recommend!
Published 14 days ago by Wajp5f
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy
This book gave an insight into a life most of us are not familiar with and have no underestanding of. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Lucille Vogel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite Wife
This is the first book I have read in a long time that I could not put down. I like it so much I bought three more copies and gave them to my friends. Excellent!
Published 23 days ago by Jenna Middleton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mormons will hate it!
Interesting book. I am the product of an LDS upbringing, who is no longer a member. I am a christian. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pamela Mack
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy read Autobiography
I found this book an easy read. It was my first exposure to an insiders story about polygamy and the morman life-style. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting tale of the horrors of polygamy
Susan Schmidt vividly describes the life of a young woman trapped in the cult of polygamy. The reader follows her life from the young age of 14 when she is allowed to marry a man... Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. West
3.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite Wife
I'm not a Mormon, but lived in Utah for a number of years and I believe every word of the book because I know several polygamist families and the horrendous consequences of this... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Diana Roberts
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