Diary of a Plural Wife: The Sego Lily

By Jeanette Ayers

Nancy Clemens captures her familys western migration in a journal given her by the rakish Frank Jones. They leave in the spring of 1857 for a six-month journey to California. Nancy and Frank spend many hours together before and after departure and their relationship intensifies. As they leave their beautiful homeland, crossing into Indian Territory, lightheartedness is overshadowed by a foreboding of danger. Talk of Indian attacks is relieved by an encounter with a man searching for his wife who ran off to marry a Mormon. Discussions of polygamy fascinate the emigrants as they travel fort to fort gathering information, unaware that as they learn more and more about this mystical religion, they are coming closer to being embedded in its history. Nancys common sense and analytical bent of mind enable her to probe into the sects ideologies without condemnation. A product of strict religious upbringing, she is a sensitive and unpretentious young woman, with an earthy sense of humor. Not so much beautiful, as unique, in looks as well as intelligence. She has a dramatic flair for fashion and is the first woman to wear trousers. Nancy has been initiated at her fathers knee into the world of religion, tempered by her mothers optimism and coping skills which enable her to endure atrocities when disaster strikes. The narrative blends mythology and supernatural phenomenon prevalent in various religious sects in 19th century America, with vignettes of Joseph Smiths presidential campaign and attempt to establish a kingdom in Texas.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1432766139
• ISBN13: 9781432766139
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"