Author: Ann Weisgarber
Title: The Glovemaker
Skyhorse, Feb. 2019. Historical fiction.
Reviewed by Susan Jensen, Feb. 2019.
THE GLOVEMAKER is an intriguing historical novel about an “in-between place” filled with in-between Saints. Although I’ve been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my whole life, I’d never heard of an Underground Railroad for polygamist LDS men on the run from the law during the late 1800s in Utah (although it was illegal, plural marriage was practiced by some members of the mainstream Church from about 1850-1890 and is only practiced now by members of off-shoot groups who are not affiliated with the Church). It’s a fascinating idea, especially as it goes along with the premise of this novel—it’s about a group of early members of the Church who are loyal to the religion, but not necessarily devout. They’re not polygamists, but they still just want to be left alone. Nevertheless, they can’t turn their back on these runaway men who have wives and children at home. What results is a tense, suspenseful story filled with empathetic characters and interesting historical details. As the main characters wrestle with questions of faith, charity, love, and loyalty, they must make decisions that could have deadly consequences for themselves, their neighbors, and their entire settlement.
Although Weisgarber is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (at least not as far as I can tell), she addresses the issue of plural marriage with sensitivity and empathy (especially toward the women and children in polygamist families). This, coupled with skilled prose, interesting characters, and an engrossing plot kept me reading and enjoying THE GLOVEMAKER.