Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon
Brand: University of North Carolina Press
Categories: Books, Literature & Fiction, History & Criticism



Dimensions: 6.13 x 0.66 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-13: 978-1469655666
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1469655667
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Print length: 264 pages
Publication date: May 25, 2020
subtitle: Paperback – May 25, 2020
author: Davis
review: Editorial Reviews Review A significant contribution to the growing field of study surrounding early Mormon texts." -- Early American Literature An astoundingly good book, one of the best works of religious and intellectual history . . . in years." -- Mormon Studies Review Reconsidering the orality of Smith's Book of Mormon project treads new ground, and Davis's work will continue to play a role in the burgeoning field of Book of Mormon studies for years to come.-- Church History Offers exciting potential for future study of the text. . . . One of the great strengths of the book is Davis' grounding in a nineteenth-century oral culture far distinct from our own; a world of audiences entranced by three-hour sermons delivered by gesticulating preachers holding no notes; a world in which divinity students drilled tirelessly on mnemonic devices to help them capture vast reams of scripture in their minds.-- Nova Religio A groundbreaking book on the making of the Book of Mormon - this will be one of the go-to books for anyone seeking to understand how the Book of Mormon was created.--Erik Champenois, Association for Mormon Letters Davis succeeds in providing and analyzing evidence of his thesis in a scholarly fashion, while composing a readable book that can be appreciated by both believers and non-believers in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. . . . Visions in a Seer Stone is an excellent and important addition to Mormon studies.--Andrew Hamilton, Association for Mormon Letters A provocative work of scholarship that not only stands as a convincing reassessment of the Book of Mormon in its own right, but also invites future investigations into the book, its myriad contexts, and its legacy.-- The Dialogue Journal [An] engrossing debut. . . . Readers interested in Mormon studies or mid-19th-century American religions will be enlightened by Davis's thorough analysis.-- Publishers Weekly , starred review About the Author William L. Davis, an independent scholar, holds a Ph.D. in theater and performance and has published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought; John Bunyan Studies: A Journal of Reformation and Nonconformist Culture; Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies; Style; Text and Performance Quarterly; and Textual Cultures .