No Man Knows My History: The life of Joseph Smith (2nd rev. enlarged ed. 1995)

(1st published in 1945 by Alfred A. Knopf Inc., NYC; this 2nd revised ed. first published in hardcover by Alfred A. Knopf in 1971, Vintage paperback re-ed. 1995)The first paperback edition of the classic biography of the founder of the Mormon church, this book attempts to answer the questions that continue to surround Joseph Smith. Was he a genuine prophet, or a gifted fabulist who became enthralled by the products of his imagination and ended up being martyred for them? 24 pages of photos. Map. In 1823 A Young Man Named Joseph Smith Had An Encountr With An Angel Who Led Him To A Cache Of Golden Plates Purporting To Be The History Of The Lost Tribes Of Israel. Out Of These New Gospels And Out Of Smith's Own Charismatic Personality And Sense Of Mission- Arose An Authentically American Religion, The Mormon Faith. Ch. 1. Gods Are Among The People -- Ch. 2. Treasures In The Earth -- Ch. 3. Red Sons Of Israel -- Ch. 4. Marvelous Work And A Wonder -- Ch. 5. Witnesses For God -- Ch. 6. Prophet Of Palmyra -- Ch. 7. Perfect Society And The Promised Land -- Ch. 8. Temple-builder -- Ch. 9. Expulsion From Eden -- Ch. 10. Army Of The Lord -- Ch. 11. Patronage And Punishment -- Ch. 12. Master Of Languages -- Ch. 13. My Kingdom Is Of This World -- Ch. 14. Disaster In Kirtland -- Ch. 15. Valley Of God -- Ch. 16. Alcoran Or The Sword -- Ch. 17. Ordeal In Liberty Jail -- Ch. 18. Nauvoo -- Ch. 19. Mysteries Of The Kingdom -- Ch. 20. In The Quiver Of The Almighty -- Ch. 21. If A Man Entice A Maid -- Ch. 22. Bennett Explosion -- Ch. 23. Into Hiding -- Ch. 24. Wives Of The Prophet -- Ch. 25. Candidate For President -- Ch. 26. Prelude To Destruction -- Ch. 27. Carthage. Fawn M. Brodie. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 489-499) And Index. This highly praised biography, revised and enlarged with new material, takes its title from a half-defiant, half-wistful pronouncement Joseph Smith himself made toward the close of the short, tragic melodrama that was his life. But the reader is made to know him fully--the man, the world from which he came, his extraordinary impact. His biographer, herself steeped in Mormon lore since her Utah childhood, performed feats of painstaking research--through the files of country newspapers, obscure court records, countless thickets of local documents and memories. The result is a concrete narrative of Smith's life from his boyhood and young manhood to his violent end. Mrs. Brodie throws light also on the literary influences that inspired and colored the Book of Mormon and the theological structure of the religion founded on it. Beyond its vivid portrayal of the Mormon Prophet, this is a history of the early days of the Mormon Church.--From publisher description In 1823 a young man named Joseph Smith had an encounter with an angel who led him to a cache of golden plates purporting to be the history of the lost tribes of Israel. Out of these new gospels and out of Smith's own charismatic personality and sense of mission- arose an authentically American religion, the Mormon faith