Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife - Softcover

Spencer, Irene

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599951584 ISBN 13: 9781599951584

Publisher: Center Street, 2008

Synopsis

Irene Spencer did as she felt God commanded in becoming the second wife to her brother-in-law Verlan LeBaron. When the government raided their community-the Mormon village of Short Creek, Arizona-seeking to enforce the penalties for practicing polygamy, Irene and her family fled to Verlan's family ranch in Mexico. Here they lived in squalor and desolate conditions with Verlan's six brothers, one sister, and numerous wives and children. This appalling and astonishing tale has captured the attention of readers around the world. Irene's inspirational story reveals how far religion can be stretched and abused and how one woman and her children found their way out, into truth and redemption.

About this title

About the Author:

Irene Spencer currently lives in Anchorage Alaska, with her husband Hector Spencer. During the 28 years of her first marriage to a polygamous husband, Irene gave birth to 13 children (all single births). She also adopted a newborn daughter, who became her ninth child. Irene has 121 grandchildren. She has 49 great-grandchildren. Among her many talents, she is an accomplished seamstress who sews for family and friends, she's a great cook and bakes pastries and homemade bread, she speaks Spanish and English fluently and has traveled to 23 foreign countries and 23 states.

From AudioFile:

Laural Merlington narrates this unforgettable, if frustrating, book with such intelligence and sympathy that her patience helps support the listener's. Irene Spencer spent 28 years in a polygamous marriage to a man who, from day one, was so insensitive, dishonest, and full of himself that the listener's question is why would anyone sane put up with him, let alone with the shocking poverty and danger he provided, when she had other choices? Spencer tells what happened--the thirteen children, the eight sister-wives, the insane brother-in-law's murder spree, and her endless disappointments and angers--and it's an astonishing human document. But she cannot in the end explain why she stayed, only that she did. Spencer offers the word "brainwashing." Accurate, without doubt, but it leaves one questioning. B.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Center Street
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1599951584
• ISBN 13: 9781599951584
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432