Fawn McKay Brodie: A Biographer's Life

It's hard to have read any of Fawn Brodie's magnificent and controversial biographies (of Joseph Smith, Sir Richard Burton, Thomas Jefferson, etc) without being drawn to her own story. Newell Bringhurst, who obviously shares much of her background--disaffected Mormon historian with a great respect for the techniques of true writing and research--has written a personal and engaging life of Ms. B. I found she was even more courageous, clear-thinking, and ethical than I had thought her to be. Fawn-ophiles will have to get this book.

Anyone reading this book who expects to receive insights that Fawn Brodie was a demon, or a person who "was out to get the LDS Church" will be disappointed. The author comes through as a bright scholar, a loyal wife, and a loving mother. In many ways, I was surprised to learn what a normal and conservative background Fawn had.Fawn was a brilliant young woman who came from a family of mostly Scottish ancestry who resided in a small town in Northern Utah, called Huntsville. Early in her life, Fawn exhibited signs of great intelligence and precocity. She skipped many grades in school, and as I recall, had earned a bachelor's degree from college when she was 18 years old. Fawn was able to attend the University of Chicago in the 1930's and it was there that she did most of the research for her best-known book "No Man Knows My History". A surprising amount of material needed for the book was right there in the university library. The thought that crossed my mind, after reading this book, was that uncovering many of the *problems* she perceived in Joseph Smith's story was not particularly difficult. One has the impression of someone who started out as an orthodox Mormon and begins to investigate various claims one by one. As she comes across the historical record, she at first becomes a bit surprised, than startled, and finally reaches opposite conclusions than the ones she was taught as a child.Fawn marries Bernard Brodie while at the University of Chicago and creates something of a scandal in her family by marrying a "Jew". However, the two are very gifted people and go on to careers in writing and teaching at major universities.Fawn's other significant book "Thomas Jefferson, an Intimate History" upset other groups because of her conclusions about Jefferson's relationship with his slave, Sally Hemmings. However, these conclusions have since been validated by DNA testing that establishes Jefferson did have children with Ms. Hemmings. Again, we see a pattern. An author that is unafraid to tackle tough subjects.I was saddened when Fawn developed lung cancer (she never smoked) at age 65 and died within a few months. However, she handled her last days openly and with as much dignity as someone could under the circumstances. I enjoyed this book and found her to be a woman of courage. Mark

I was interested in reading about the woman who had stirred up so much emotion with her biography of Joseph Smith. I have discovered, since living in Utah, the Brodie name can cause real division. I was intrigued by the descriptions of growing up in Utah in the first part of the 20th century. The evolution from devout member of the Mormon church to one who questioned and then left the fold, is thoughtful and well researched. Most of all, I was captivated by the description of Fawn Brodies's writing process. It is actually more telling and more informative than many of the volumes devoted to writing. It is a rare glimpse into the balancing act of a woman who had chosen to include writing in her already full life, especially in a time when women were rarely found working. Many of the feelings she shares and the conflicts she expressed ring true today. A fair and even handed look at a very complex woman.

Fawn McKay Brodie was an exceptionally bright child born into a prominent Mormon family who grew to become a controversial author in adulthood. I knew little of Brodie and virtually nothing noteworthy about her before reading this book as she was vilified by the Mormon Church for her less than flattering portrayal of its founder, Joseph Smith in her book No Man Knows My History. Beyond that characterization, I became acquainted with Brodie vicariously and came to better understand her approach to biographical writing. I found Bringhurst's biograhy to be thoroughly researched, meticulously documented, and objectively presented. Drawing from a myriad of published sources and personal accounts, Bringhurst reveals the whole individual, "emphasizing not only her varied accomplishments and contributions as a preeminent biographer but also assessing her frailties, frustrations, and failures--all reflective of the complex, compelling individual she was." This is an intimate portrait of a truly remarkable woman.