Customer Reviews

The Wine-Dark Sea of Grass

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I'm disturbed that a reviewer of this book would state that this book explains what might have happened. This book is a regurgitation of the propoganda put out by the Mormon Church in an effort to exonerate them of their guilt for the slaughter of more than 120 innocent men, women and children at Mountain Meadow. John D. Lee was EXECUTED for participating in this crime; yet, the author states that she "admires him." If this book was a modern day work of fiction, it would be written about another murderer like Ted Bundy and then attempt to explain away his guilt and conclude that he was someone to be admired. Don't forget this book is labeled fiction, so nothing in it is factual. If you want to know what happened at Mountain Meadow read Bagley's book. This is a book written for Mormons to help them feel good about themselves and to help them disavow their murderous history. I personally, believe the massacre was a result of a robbery. The Baker-Fancher train had over 900 head of cattle and more than $100,000 in gold/goods. The Mormons, dressed as Indians, murdered these people as an act of theivery and used the proceeds to built their temple in Salt Lake. There is more historical facts supporting my hypothesis than the lies written in this book and hidden behind the label of "fiction." Shame on the author - an admirerer of a murderer. Lastly, the book was a dreadful bore.

I found this book quite boring and it took me a couple of months to finish it, because I didn't find it compelling enough to pick up consistently.

It seemed to rush through much of the story and the characters weren't developed as much as they could have been. I don't recommend this book. I found Red Water by Judith Freeman to be a much better read, with more fully developed characters.

John D. Lee is my Great-great-great Grandfather. I have read just about every piece of fiction and non-fiction on him and on the subject of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I would have to say this is one of the few that makes any attempt to explain just what it was that made the Mormons attack that day. While it was surely a horrible tragedy, it was not simply a random act of violence. We must always keep in mind what a different place the US was then, violent and cruel and even good men did terrible things. My Grandfather was a good man and he was part of a terrible thing. This book goes a little way to explaining how and why and how he was also ultimately a victim of the Meadows himself.