New Brigham Young Biography

[_MCB]

Of course. Note 62 to pages 321-327. Fanny Stenhouse, too, of course.

[_just me]

Of course. Note 62 to pages 321-327. Fanny Stenhouse, too, of course.

Great. Thank you for your help!

[_Joe Geisner]

I never knew that. That does explain a great deal. Do you know why it wasn't properly credited as such (like "Story of the Latter-day Saints")?

I am sorry I have been out-of-action for the last couple of weeks. I spent most of last night in the emergency room with the pinched nerves in my neck. It appears the MRI is showing much worse damage than I have known about. Since Friday I was in unbearable pain, I was not able to get control. When I told him about my weekend, my doctor told me to go to the emergency room and they would check me into the hospital. After getting the pain back under control it was decided that going home was the best thing for me at this time, and if I it gets worse then I am to go back.

As far as I know Cicero, Story of the Latter-day Saints was written predominately by Jim Allen. Jim was a great historian, and brilliant mind. His works often were ground breaking. Unfortunately his allegiance to BYU out weighted what he believed was his obligation to the historians craft. A great analysis of this can be found in Mike Quinn's On Being a Mormon Historian.

I first started hearing rumors twenty some years ago that Leonard did not write many of the books his name appears as author; except for Great Basin Kingdom. I have learned from correspondence that I have acquired over the years, that Leonard acted more as an editor, than as an author, when it came to many of his articles.

Gary Topping's excellent book Leonard J. Arrington provides detailed evidence that Leonard did not write many of the books attributed to Leonard. Even Leonard had to write that he was not author, but publisher of From Quaker to Latter-day Saint: Bishop Edwin D. Woolley, which was in fact written by Rebecca Cornwall (see his Adventures of A Church Historian p. 134).

I have been told that Ron Esplin wrote the bulk of Brigham Young, but I am not completely convinced of this. This is why I say it was written by committee (Topping, pp.161, 167), and Leonard seems to confirm this in the acknowledgements. I have been told that his sons, James and Carl, both were major contributors in the writing of the bio, but I have no hard evidence. When you read the acknowledgments, Leonard identifies most of the authors and what subjects they worked on.

To try and answer lulu's question more to the point: Most of the work done by the authors for books, was work for hire. The Cornwall example I use above is a perfect example of the author working for hire. The Young book is a bit more difficult to tell. The people that worked on the book have really not said much. But my gut tells me that Young was also a work for hire project. It is my understanding that Adventures of A Church Historian was also a work for hire project, and the biography of Leonard called Doves and Serpents is definitely work for hire (two different people. though both commissioned by Leonard). Much of the feel with Adventures makes it feel like it is pulled directly from D&S. Which is fine, since Leonard owned both works.

None of this is uncommon, in fact I have people telling me that what Leonard did was much better since he made sure and paid the authors. I hear that many PhD's neither acknowledge nor pay the work done by their "assistants." I also know editors who have taken a so-called "manuscript" that was unreadable, and completely unpublishable, and then re-wrote a book with the authors only true assistance being the research. With the final act of charity being the editor making sure the "author" gets all the credit on the title page.

[_Fence Sitter]

I hope you are feeling better soon Joe.

[_lulu]

You don't want to know how laws and sausage are made.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

Wishing you pain free good health.

[_MCB]

My sympathies on your health problem. Hope you get it resolved quickly.

I also know editors who have taken a so-called "manuscript" that was unreadable, and completely unpublishable, and then re-wrote a book with the authors only true assistance being the research. With the final act of charity being the editor making sure the "author" gets all the credit on the title page.

How patronizing can that feel? One must first discover whether the aspiring author has a good idea, but is not capable of following it through before taking such a radical step.

I am back to writing after taking a vacation to rebalance.

[_Blixa]

Feel better soon, Joe, and make 'em give you the good pills...

[_Bob Loblaw]

Feel better soon, Joe, and make 'em give you the good pills...

+100.

Illness and pain suck. Get better soon.

[_Joe Geisner]

How patronizing can that feel? One must first discover whether the aspiring author has a good idea, but is not capable of following it through before taking such a radical step.

I am back to writing after taking a vacation to rebalance.

Thank you all for your kind words for my recovery. I have hope because I trust my doctors.

Lulu said it best! This really is a case of "do we want to know how sausages are made?"

It would blow your mind about who these authors that need so much help. Many times these people are highly respected historians who have a great track record. One such book even won one of the MHA best book award categories a few years ago. I don't want to say which category, since there is some very bright people on this board and might figure out who I am talking about.

Then there are other authors who do everything asked of them by their editor. As with everything in life, we have our good days and not so good days!

So far, I think John's book is outstanding. I am completely captivated by his details to interesting aspects, sources from the CHL and breadth of vision as he tries to see what Young saw.

I am reading about Young's domestic home arrangements just after settling in the Great Basin. Many of his wives lived in what was called "Log Row" and that Mary Ann Angell did not seek a seat of prestige.(p.89) I had known some of this, but Turner is bringing this to life for me. This is a winner!

[_mms]

Looks like Kindle version will be out Sept 25 and is available for preorder now.