Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God, son of thunder [Hardcover]

Harold Schindler (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 417 pages
• Publisher: University of Utah Press; 2nd edition (1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874802040
• ISBN-13: 978-0874802047
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,318,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive biography of Rockwell, August 3, 2003

By 

Darrell Edward Ehrlick - See all my reviews

This review is from: Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God Son of Thunder (Paperback)

Harold Schindler's biography on Mormon bad-boy Orrin Porter Rockwell is still the best biography of Rockwell out there. Moreover, it may be one of the best biographies of any early Mormon written. This book is not even so much about the quiet, enigmatic Rockwell as it is the genesis of an American religious movement.

Rockwell is a hard historical figure. He is a legendary figure whom the LDS church has tended to whitewash. Non-Mormon historians have had a tendency to villify him, making him a murderer and a theif. Somewhere, undoubtedly in the middle, lies the truth. Instead of writing an indictment or an apology for his life, Schindler writes a well-balanced account of Rockwell's life. He doesn't necessarily try to provide answers or justifications, only gives the facts and lets the reader decide. No doubt Schindler's objectivity and meticulous research has made this volume stand the test of time to become a classic in Mormon history.

I don't think I have ever said this about a book before: Probably just as engaging and interesting as the book itself are the footnotes which sometimes take up more of the page than the text. This is an awesome bibliographic reference as well. Not only does Schindler tell you about the life and times of Rockwell, he also tells many fascinating historical asides. If you don't believe or are suspcious about his research, then one may look at the documents he was viewing. Schindler does an excellent job of backing up most everything that he says.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Wild Side of Mormondom, April 6, 2000

By 

Missing in Action (Idaho Falls, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God Son of Thunder (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Traditional LDS history paints a picture of Nauvoo and Salt Lake City as though they were the very seats of culture and industry. The reality was, they were both on the edge of the frontier, and consequently, they tended to be rough places. No one figured more prominantly in the "Wild West" of the Mormon kingdom than Orrin Porter Rockwell.

One of Schindler's significant contributions to the landscape of Mormon history is the perspective of the "regular folks" who were cowboys, farmers, and hunters who lived close to the land, mixed with Shoshones, Utes, Gosiutes, Paiutes and others, and who were engaged in a daily fight for survival. Rockwell's life, while steeped in Mormon theology, doctrine and experience, was also one of gunfighting, saloons, Indian fighting, stagecoaches, the California Gold Rush, and everything that is so quintessentially "western." I've read a lot of Church history, and this is the first time I really got a flavor for that element.

The difficulty with this book is that it still leaves you wondering whether Rockwell was a saint, or a ruthless killer. Unfortunately for history and historians, Rockwell was himself illiterate, and so there is no personal record of his life and dealings. On the other hand, because of his reputation, there is much that was written that portrayed him as a zealous destroyer, the mercinary of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. To Schindler's credit, he doesn't draw any conclusions on the life of Rockwell...he leaves that difficult challenge up to you!

Regardless of who Rockwell was or wasn't, this is an engaging book that addresses most of the notorious "stories" that veil Rockwell in the mists of intrigue, mystery and wonder. You'll gain a fresh perspective on the rough-hewn life of pioneer times, the Wild Side of Mormondom!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Purtie Rockwell Revealed, June 2, 2000

By 

James Binns - See all my reviews

This review is from: Orrin Porter Rockwell: Man of God Son of Thunder (Paperback)

I enjoy American History and especially biographies, usually first-hand pioneer autobiographies are best. This book by Harold Schindler, however, I especially appreciate for it's earthy and realistic portrayal of a time, people and one, mostly unknown but equally notorious character, namely O.P. Rockwell. This book is a must read and has been painstakenly documented/researched by the Author to reflect as accurate a reflection of what the written documents, eye-witnesses' accounts and governmental records can believably reveal.

The only portion of this work that I find to be somewhat incredible is that if Porter Rockwell is responsible for only half of the events, murders and heinous acts that are mentioned in this book, it seems impossible that he has avoided the notoriety that should place him in a league with the most infamous personages of the "Wild West". His cold-blooded conduct ranks him with the Daltons, Youngers or James'. His loyalty, sense of duty and shootist skills place him on a par with Bill Hickcock or Wyatt Earp. His plainsman knowledge, scouting and hunter skills liken him to William Cody. Not bad company for a figure whom doesn't have a greater fame as one of the most infamous characters in Western History. This was a very pleasant and interesting read, especially for those in search of the more authentic stories with,"...raw hide leather, bumps and bruises".