Letters of Brigham Young to His Sons (Book review)

Notes: Brigham Young was an "advocate of plural marriage and father of some 57 children. Of his 46 children who grew to maturity, seventeen were sons and it is a selection of his letters to thirteen of these young men that forms the body of Dean Jessee's book. The content of the book is comprehensive and the statistical information included in the appendices adds to its interest" (p. 18). Ninety-five letters "have been used in this book, the selection designed to give 'the best reflection of his domestic relationship with his children' and excluding those dealing with business matters or the detailing of local events" (p. 18). "[A] reader of this book may well speculate as to the part played in the lives of Brigham Young's sons by their respective mothers. This does not emerge in the letters -- the women seldom receive more than casual mentions such as, 'Your mother and all the family join me in love to you'" (p. 19).

Subjects: Young, Brigham, 1801-1877 - Book reviews; Mormons and Mormonism - Biography - Book reviews