Image via Wikipedia Temple of the FLDS in El Dorado, Texas
by Malinda Winkle
Carolyn Jessop (with Laura Palmer) wrote a book I highly recommend called "Escape". Read an astoundingly-candid account of life in a polygamist cult. At just 18 years old, she became the fourth wife of a 50-year old man--a total stranger--by an arranged marriage. She bore eight children for him during the next fifteen years. She worked as a school teacher and gave all her paychecks to her husband.
With just $20 in her pocket, Carolyn fought a courageous fight to gain freedom for herself and all eight of her children. This is something which had never been done by any woman in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church (FLDS Church), a split off the Mormon Church. Some wives have left the FLDS, but none have ever managed to get all their children out with them, until Carolyn overcame all the odds.
This true story tells the vivid details of everyday life while sharing her husband with her "sister wives" and attempting to parent her eight children in a home where her husband eventually fathered over 150 children by over 10 wives.
Carolyn's valor led her out of a life of deprivation and subservience. In spite of the horrendous psychological abuse she endured, in spite of have two very sick children at the time of her escape and despite living in great fear of her dictatorial spouse, she made her extraordinary escape. And, yes! There is a happy ending. Highly recommended reading.
Disclosure: The author of this review gets no profit if you choose to purchase this book. Link provided as a convenience to the reader.
This is a very Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteYou are not kidding. The book is an excellent read. I had to share it with my readers.
ReplyDeleteMalinda Winkle