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Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith [Paperback]

Linda King Newell , Valeen Tippetts Avery
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)

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Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith + No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith + Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: University of Illinois Press; 2 Sub edition (June 1, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0252062914
  • ISBN-13: 978-0252062919
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
165 of 168 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An Authors Reflections March 15, 2009
Format:Paperback
It has been 25 years since Valeen tippets Avery and I completed the manuscript of Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, published by Doublday, Inc. in 1984. University of Illinois Press released a revised second edition in 1994, which enabled us to make a number of correctons, mainly associated with documents that were forged by Mark Hoffman. Since its first release, Mormon Enigma has seen steady sales--about 1000 copies a year. Hopfully it will remain a mainstay in Mormon history in the forseeable future.

So after all these years, I decided to read, for the first time, the reviews of the book posted on Amazon.Com--twenty-three to date. Most of them were kind; a few had erroneous information which I wish to correct here.

A review by "A Customer" titled "Enlightening Scholarship," June 16, 2001, said that one of the authors is LDS and the other RLDS (now Community of Christ Church). I am LDS and so was Val (she died suddenly on April 7, 2006.)

Angele Dawn Bissonette in her August 21, 2006, review stated that one of the authors was ecommunicated. Neither of us were excommunicated. The powers that be in the LDS church, however, were not happy with the book, saying that "it is a non-traditional view of Joseph Smith." To discourage the sale of the book they banned us from speaking in any LDS Church meetings or even in any Church buildings on anything having to do with LDS Church history. When the press picked up the story, sales of the book tripled. The ban lasted about a year--from May 1985 to May 1986. At that time I received word that we were no longer under any restrictions.

The most startling misconception titled "amazon.com has it wrong," April 6, 1999, came from another person identified as "A Customer." The review stated that before the manuscript was finished "Linda King Newell developed personal problems and was unable to continue working on the book. Valeen Avery finished the book and completed all revisions to appease the publisher." This is just not true. I was the primary researcher for the book and the writing was divided equally. We worked together to rewrite each others narratives until the prose emerged as a seamless whole. Each one of us did have different "down" times. I had major surgery and Val broke her right(write)arm and some ribs in a car accident. Neither of us stopped working on the book during our recoveries. When our editor at Doubleday told us we had to cut the 1000 page manuscript by one third, we both went through the entire manuscript to accomplish that, trading sections back and forth. In the end a flip of a coin determined whose name went first.

I appreciate all the kind words that so many readers have contributed in these reviews. Thank you all.
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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After reading many books which either sugar-coated or demonized the early Mormon experience, I found the extensive use of authentic documents (letters, diaries, news articles, church & public records) in the work to be refreshing. The authors seemed to have no other agenda than to discover and reveal Emma's actual experience. Emma is portrayed with a wide spectrum of human qualities, overlain with a strong, consistent spiritual vision. Peering into her husband/prophet's life, through her perspective, seemed to give a fair, historically accurate, and unromanticized, view of a man who has inspired strong emotions, devotion and criticism. I recommend it. The view of life during the decades of Emma's life was carefully drawn and gives appreciation for the challenges of people in that time and place.
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67 of 72 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Woman August 26, 2001
Format:Paperback
This biography is well researched and shows what a great and strong woman Emma Smith was. It was especially interesting to see how she dealt with the polygamy issue with Joseph Smith and also to see how well she raised her children after his death. The only reason that I marked this book down a little was because the first third of the book was a little difficult to get through. In this part of the book it seemed to me that I was reading a biography of Joseph Smith, rather than Emma. As a footnote, it was also interesting to note some of the trials the authors have faced from church leaders due to their writing this book. They seemed to have gotten into a little trouble for sharing some of the less flattering aspects of Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's actions. If anything, the authors treaded lightly in these areas and could have been much more blunt in sharing their character defects in regards to their treatment of Emma. But kudos to the authors for being willing to write what they did.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice to read about Emma
After reading most books that focus on Joseph Smith it was really nice to read about Emma's life and her perspective. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Alison
5.0 out of 5 stars Deep and detailed
Emma Smith was an amazing woman to have put up with the insanity of her husband. She loved him in spite of the at least 48 other documented wives he had. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Cathy
1.0 out of 5 stars I voted with my feet
I bought and read this book many years ago. I got about half way through this book, when I felt a dark feeling. I didn't like that feeling and quit reading it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Duane R. Hampton
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent portrayal of Emma Smith
I always hated that stories about Emma ended when the Saints left Nauvoo and she stayed behind. Poor Emma. Not at all! I love that this book covers her entire life. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mom of 3
4.0 out of 5 stars He is not here to speak!
This is not a response to this particular book. It was well written.

I find all the constant questions, doubts, fears, & outright lies about Joseph Smith offensive. Read more
Published 21 months ago by bbk914
5.0 out of 5 stars AN EXCELLENT AND PATHBREAKING BIOGRAPHY OF A MAJOR LDS/RLDS (CoC)...
This is an excellent, and very informative book, which attempts to (as the authors state in their Introduction to this 1984 book) "(maintain) balance in describing historical... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Steven H. Propp
5.0 out of 5 stars The True Story of Emma Hale's Tumultuos Marriage
I highly recommend this book as a true biography of Emma Hale.

"Mormon Enigma, originally published in 1984, brought the wrath of the Brethren to bear on what had been... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Kay Burningham
2.0 out of 5 stars How many second and third person sources can they use?
This book is very well researched. It takes Emma and brings her into clearer view. However, as one reads they can stumble upon things that raise questions. Read more
Published on July 13, 2010 by S. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Seeking the right path to GOD... Was I wrong in my LDS conviction of...
I have been a faithful member of the LDS Faith for over 16 years.. I can't say that learning more about polygamy and history on Joseph Smith has "strengthened my faith". Read more
Published on May 12, 2009 by Anna Curtis
5.0 out of 5 stars She deserves more than what LDS history has made of her
From reading the many biographies of Joseph Smith (hereafter "JS"), we are well acquainted with Emma and her father, Isaac Hale. Read more
Published on April 14, 2009 by Matthew Bryde
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