Red Water

In 1857, at a place called Mountain Meadows in southern Utah, a band of Mormons and Indians massacred 120 emigrants. Twenty years later, the slaughter was blamed on one man named John D. Lee, previously a member of Brigham Young's inner circle. Red Water imagines Lee's extraordinary frontier life through the eyes of three of his nineteen wives. Emma is a vigorous and capable Englishwoman who loves her husband unconditionally. Ann, a bride at thirteen years old, is an independent adventurer. Rachel is exceedingly devout and married Lee to be with her sister, his first wife. These spirited women describe their struggle to survive Utah's punishing landscape and the poisonous rivalries within their polygamous family, led by a magnetic, industrious, and considerate husband, who was also unafraid of using his faith to justify desire and ambition.

Author: Judith Freeman
Publisher: Anchor Books
Published: 04/08/2003
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.06h x 5.32w x 0.77d
ISBN: 9780385720694
Award: Utah Book Award - Winner

Review Citation(s):
Booksense '76 Reading Grp 04 05/01/2004 pg. 1

About the Author
Judith Freeman is the author of three novels-The Chinchilla Farm, Set for Life, and A Desert of Pure Feeling-and of Family Attractions, a collection of stories. She lives in California.