A Little Lower than the Angels
| Author | Virginia Sorensen |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| ISBN | 1-56085-103-1 |
A Little Lower Than the Angels is a historical fiction novel by Virginia Sorensen, published in 1942 by Alfred A. Knopf. This was Sorensen's first novel, and it received attention for its lyrical prose and impartial approach to Mormon history, especially regarding polygamy. The phrase "Lower than the angels" is a reference to Psalm 8:5.[1]
Synopsis
The novel is told from the perspectives of several different characters, from the fictional character Mercy Baker to the character based on the real-life Joseph Smith. Critic Lewis Gannet praised her ability to "write stories within the longer narrative so complete they could stand alone." [2]
Mercy and Simon Baker arrive in Nauvoo, Illinois with their three children and another on the way. On the boggy banks of the Mississippi River, the Mormon community is rife with “swamp fever,” and their eldest son, Jarvie, soon falls ill with the same disease. Joseph Smith arrives and, along with Simon and other men, gives Jarvie a blessing, to no effect. Mercy goes out into the woods to collect herbs for her son, and it is alone in the woods that she suddenly gives birth. She brings the baby and her scavenged medicine home to find that Jarvie is already getting better. Mercy slowly recovers, while her friend Eliza Snow and Joseph Smith draw closer. Joseph announces the doctrine of polygamy to the brethren of the church, and then directly goes to propose to Eliza. Mercy witnesses the sealing ceremony of Eliza and Joseph, but is very uncomfortable with the idea of polygamy and feels that her friend Eliza is being taken advantage of. Jarvie and the family's maid, Vic, get romantically involved with each other, but Vic is banished when Simon catches the two of them together. Meanwhile, Emma Smith learns about her husband's multiple wives and feels betrayed especially by her friend Eliza. Joseph Smith is imprisoned and killed after ordering the destruction of a printing press, and church leadership transitions to Brigham Young. Mercy continually gets pregnant and gives birth, with recovery taking longer and longer each time. She gives birth to twins, which leaves her weak, and when one of the twin girls dies, she is unable to manage the house. Brigham Young tells Simon Baker that he should take on a second wife, Charlot, who arrives in the Baker home under the pretense of a housekeeper. Jarvie catches his father and Charlot together and puts up a strong resistance against Charlot's rule over the household. Mercy, feeling better one morning, gets out of bed to find that Simon was sleeping with Charlot. Realizing that the only way she can retain power in her family and her marriage is to play along, Mercy holds up a tense relationship with her new sister-wife. Mobs begin setting fire to homes, including the Bakers, and they are forced to move into Charlot's house. Brigham eventually makes the call for the members to abandon their homes and go west. The Baker family packs up and leaves in their wagons, but as they pass their old, burnt-down home, Mercy dies suddenly.
Background
The Bakers are based on Sorensen's pioneer great-grandparents. Her great-grandfather was named Simon Peter Eggertsen, who brought books across the planes like the character Mercy and lived in Nauvoo during the events portrayed in the book.[3] The historical characters, Joseph Smith, Eliza R. Snow, Emma Smith, and Brigham Young, were based on research that Sorensen did while living in Terre Haute, Indiana, across the state from Nauvoo, Illinois.[4]
The title refers to Psalm 8:5.[1]
Despite writing stories about and for the Mormon culture and people, Sorensen's books were not well received in Utah.[5] A Little Lower Than the Angels received a negative review by Latter-Day Saint Apostle John A. Widstoe in his editorial in the Improvement Era magazine's book review section. He found the writing to be unengaging, and Sorensen's portrayal of Joseph Smith weak. However, this book was very successful outside of her home state and had positive reviews in several east-coast magazines and newspapers, [5] including reviews by Milton Rugoff in the New York Herald Tribune and Walter Prescott in the New York Times.[2]
Criticism
For a novel debut, A Little Lower Than the Angels foretold a talented writing career. Her publisher, Alfred Knopf, wrote in the book jacket, "I have seldom introduced a new novelist with the confidence I feel in the author of this remarkable book. It marks the debut, I believe, of a major American writer."[5] By May 1942, 7,800 copies had been sold. However sales were far lower in Utah, and Deseret Book did not distribute the novel. [2] The success of the novel outside of Utah was credited in some part to the open way Sorensen portrayed this early Mormon culture in a human, unthreatening way. "General Readers who, at the time, did not have a favorable impression of Mormons, could read the novel knowing that it did not require them to accept the doctrines of the Church because the central character, with whom readers most closely identify, is not a believer." [5]
Sorensen went on to continue her career in American regionalism, but much of the praise of A Little Lower Than the Angels deals with her treatment of the female perspective. A majority of the novel is from the perspective of the female characters. Helynne Hansen said, "Sorensen's creativity in allowing readers to see the true sentiments and perceptions beneath the surface of male-dominated doctrines, and beyond the silences of courageous women, is an early foray into the now-prolific realm of feminist language and expression" or Écriture féminine.[6]
References
- ^ a b Lee, L. L. (Lawrence L.) (1978). Virginia Sorensen. Lee, Sylvia B.,. Boise, Idaho: Boise State University. ISBN 0-88430-055-2. OCLC 4656476.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ a b c Bradford, Mary Lythgoe. Foreward to A Little Lower than the Angels. Salt Lake City. Signature Books, 1997. v-xx
- ^ Sorensen, Virgina (1980). "'If You Are a Writer, You Write!': an interview with Virginia Sorensen". Dialogue. 13: 17–36.
- ^ Worth their salt, too : more notable but often unnoted women of Utah. Whitley, Colleen, 1940-. Logan: Utah State University Press. 2000. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-87421-766-7. OCLC 593280459.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b c d Howe, Susan Elizabeth (2002). "Virginia Sorensen's A Little Lower Than the Angels and John A. Widtsoe; A Lesson in Literary History". Annual (Association for Mormon letters): 87–94.
- ^ Hansen, Helynne H. (1994). "In Search of Women's Language and Feminist Expression among Nauvoo Wives in A Little Lower than the Angels" (PDF). Dialgoue. 27: 94–102.