Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

This extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America's isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities, where some 40,000 people still practice polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God.

At the core of Krakauer's book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America's fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Anchor Books
Published: 06/08/2004
ISBN: 9781400032808
Pages: 432
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 8.01h x 5.22w x 0.94d

Review Citations: New York Times 05/23/2004 pg. 24
BookPage 08/01/2004 pg. 18

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 74916 / Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
Reading Level: 10 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 23