The United States in the mid-19th century was wild, filled with social upheaval, political corruption, and people migrating west in search of a better life. (Except for the migrating westward part, this reminds me of the U.S. today.) Another parallel between the antebellum period and the present-day U.S. is the fascinating emergence of leaders whose goal it is to con others into believing them, following them, possibly even worshipping them. We have a (not yet indicted) charismatic criminal in the White House, and in the mid-1800s there was James Strang. (Truly, as I read about Strang, with his devoted followers, I kept thinking about the rally last weekend…) Miles Harvey tells the little-known and extremely interesting story of James Strang in The King of Confidence.
I loved reading this book…in one way, it gave me hope that we will indeed get past the current situation. On the other hand, it reminded me how incredibly gullible and willing to accept wild beliefs that people are, leading me to wallow in my fear that we are completely screwed. James Strang came along at a time when people were desperate for someone to lead them. Although he was an avowed atheist, when Joseph Smith, the leader of the new Latter Day Saints religion known as Mormonism was murdered, Strang jumped on the opportunity to fill the vacuum left by Smith’s death. He somewhat miraculously presented a letter naming him as the successor to the prophet and persuaded hundreds of Smith’s followers to move to an island in Lake Michigan where he would lead them in (to?) glory.
Seriously, people believed this? How much did they need something to hang onto that they would fall for such a blatant con? Oh wait, election of 2016…but I digress. Strang would eventually control as much as a quarter of the state of Michigan, living a polygamous life, and perpetrating a boatload of fraudulent activities before being assassinated. What a wild ride!
Reminiscent of wonderful narrative nonfiction such as Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City, The King of Confidence is a biography of Strang, a history of LDS activity Immediately after Joseph Smith died, and a wonderful presentation of U.S. society in the years leading up to the Civil War all at once. Thanks to Little, Brown & Co. and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.