The Selected Letters of Juanita Brooks

by Craig S. Smith

The 220 letters selected for this book offer a fresh and intimate encounter with Juanita Brooks, one of the most influential historians of Utah and the Mormons. Born and raised in the small and remote agricultural village of Bunkerville, Nevada, Brooks lived most most of her life in St. George, Utah, and rose to prominence following the 1950 publication of her landmark book,  The Mountain Meadows Massacre . Her unwavering commitment to honest scholarship continues to inspire younger generations laboring to produce excellent objective history.
 
The letters in this volume, written from 1941 to 1978, trace Brooks’s development from fledgling historian to recognized authority. Serving almost as an autobiography of her interactions with her contemporaries, this selection provides a new perspective on Brooks’s personality and growth as a scholar. Richly detailed, chatty, and covering a wide array of subjects, the letters afford an important glimpse into Brooks’s struggles, concerns, and interests.

520 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2019

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love Juanita. Fearless in pursuit of truth.

[Sharla Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intimate look at Grandma Juanita through her own eyes. I loved it.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book-I love her ability to disagree while expressing kindness for the other person’s opinion. Her depth of work is spectacular. So blessed to have her work.