Mormons in Paris

Polygamy on the French Stage, 1874-1892

By Christopher M. Flood, Corry Cropper | Publisher: Bucknell University Press

About the book

Winner of the 2021 Best International Book Award from the Mormon History Association

In the late nineteenth century, numerous French plays, novels, cartoons, and works of art focused on Mormons. Unlike American authors who portrayed Mormons as malevolent “others,” however, French dramatists used Mormonism to point out hypocrisy in their own culture. Aren't Mormon women, because of their numbers in a household, more liberated than French women who can't divorce? What is polygamy but another name for multiple mistresses? This new critical edition presents translations of four musical comedies staged or published in France in the late 1800s: Mormons in Paris (1874), Berthelier Meets the Mormons (1875), Japheth’s Twelve Wives (1890), and Stephana’s Jewel (1892). Each is accompanied by a short contextualizing introduction with details about the music, playwrights, and staging. Humorous and largely unknown, these plays use Mormonism to explore and mock changing French mentalities during the Third Republic, lampooning shifting attitudes and evolving laws about marriage, divorce, and gender roles.

Published by Bucknell University Press. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.

Editions of Mormons in Paris

Paperback
ISBN 9781684482368
EBook
ISBN 9781684482382
PDF
ISBN 9781684482405

Read an Excerpt

Winner of the 2021 Best International Book Award from the Mormon History Association

In the late nineteenth century, numerous French plays, novels, cartoons, and works of art focused on Mormons. Unlike American authors who portrayed Mormons as malevolent “others,” however, French dramatists used Mormonism to point out hypocrisy in their own culture. Aren't Mormon women, because of their numbers in a household, more liberated than French women who can't divorce? What is polygamy but another name for multiple mistresses? This new critical edition presents translations of four musical comedies staged or published in France in the late 1800s: Mormons in Paris (1874), Berthelier Meets the Mormons (1875), Japheth’s Twelve Wives (1890), and Stephana’s Jewel (1892). Each is accompanied by a short contextualizing introduction with details about the music, playwrights, and staging. Humorous and largely unknown, these plays use Mormonism to explore and mock changing French mentalities during the Third Republic, lampooning shifting attitudes and evolving laws about marriage, divorce, and gender roles.

Published by Bucknell University Press. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mormons in Paris about?

Winner of the 2021 Best International Book Award from the Mormon History Association

In the late nineteenth century, numerous French plays, novels, cartoons, and works of art focused on Mormons. Unlike American authors who portrayed Mormons as malevolent “others,” however, French dramatists used Mormonism to point out hypocrisy in their own culture. Aren't Mormon women, because of their numbers in a household, more liberated than French women who can't divorce? What is polygamy but another name for multiple mistresses? This new critical edition presents translations of four musical comedies staged or published in France in the late 1800s: Mormons in Paris (1874), Berthelier Meets the Mormons (1875), Japheth’s Twelve Wives (1890), and Stephana’s Jewel (1892). Each is accompanied by a short contextualizing introduction with details about the music, playwrights, and staging. Humorous and largely unknown, these plays use Mormonism to explore and mock changing French mentalities during the Third Republic, lampooning shifting attitudes and evolving laws about marriage, divorce, and gender roles.

Published by Bucknell University Press. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Mormons in Paris?

The Arts > Performing arts > Theatre studies

Where can I read a sample of Mormons in Paris?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781684482368

Is Mormons in Paris part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Scènes francophones: Studies in French and Francophone Theater

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Mormons in Paris?

Christopher M. Flood, Corry Cropper

Who is the Publisher of the book Mormons in Paris?

Bucknell University Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Mormons in Paris is available as paperback(ISBN 9781684482368) and ebook(ISBN 9781684482382) and pdf(ISBN 9781684482405)

Where can I buy Mormons in Paris online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Mormons in Paris from below

Where can I buy Mormons in Paris?