Shattered Dreams, by Irene Spencer

By Tannaz Allaway  on Thursday 6 September 2007

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A fascinating memoir of polygamous marriage

In this utterly engaging memoir, Irene Spencer talks about her 28 years as a 'plural wife' and mother to 14 children.

A fundamentalist Mormon, she grew up in Utah, America, in a society that shut itself away from the world so that it could follow the illegal practice of polygamous marriage.

In her attempt to live by 'The Principle', and to escape an abusive stepfather (her mother walked out on her first husband and three 'sister-wives'), Irene marries Verlan LeBaron, her half-sister's husband.

Verlan's brother, a self-proclaimed prophet, has set up a new church in Mexico and Irene moves there with high hopes. Living with him and his family – including Verlan's first wife and his mad, shackled sister – she helps the LeBaron family in their back-breaking pursuit to found a new Mormon colony.

Spencer charts an extraordinary life of poverty as she tries to live according to her religious principles, giving birth to countless children while remaining loyal and obedient to her beloved husband, who juggles ten – yes, ten – wives. And 58 children.

With a crazed, murderous brother on the rampage, and a highly illegal menage-a-onze, the families keep relocating to remain alive, beneath the sight of the law, and in pursuit of (ever-failing) new business ventures.

It's a pretty crazy tale, and there are points, such as the various premonitions of death, where the story seems to step beyond belief. But nonetheless, it's pretty jaw-dropping stuff as Irene provides a fascinating insight into Mormon life and polygamous marriage.

Shattered Dreams (£16.99 hardback, FaithWords) is out now.

*****

Review by Tannaz Allaway

Release date: Thursday 6 September 2007

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