In 1888, Bishop Orson F. Whitney issued his famous call for a home literature based on Mormon themes and aspirations. “We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. … In God’s name and by His help we will build up a literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundations may now be low in earth.” Perhaps in response to that call, B.H. Roberts published his short novel “Corianton,” one year later.

http://www.keepapitchinin.org/archives/corianton-genealogy-of-a-mormon-phenomenon/

Pay Lat Alol



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/2013 06:43PM by Jerry the Aspousetate.

Ha! Renaissance?? Surely you jest.

The state of Mormon lit is lamentable. Good writing requires critical thinking skills and a lot of questioning -- qualities that don't partner well with the "message-driven" stories that Mormon publishers want. IMHO, the Mormon culture devalues writing skill and produces mediocre (at best) writers and semi-literate readers who can't think too deeply about much of anything.

Shakespeare filled his plays and poems with sex, violence, political intrigue, backstabbing, war, murder, love, lust, betrayal, grief, loss, death, sex, humor, and lots of questioning. He did it with great characters, riveting plots, and gorgeous language. Oh -- and the bawdy jokes, lots and lots of bawdy jokes, innuendoes, and sly sexual references.

Nowadays, no LDS publisher would ever print his work.