
A lyrical lament for a vanished England opens the tale, then the scene shifts to the harsh, wind‑blown plains where Joe Wilson, a hard‑hearted ranch foreman, drives his team of restless horses through treacherous passes. His voice crackles with the rough humor of a man who has survived countless skirmishes, lost fingers, and the thin line between civilization and the untamed frontier. As the wagon rattles over stone and mud, Wilson’s gritty monologue reveals a blend of bravado and unexpected tenderness toward the women and children he protects.
The narrative follows Wilson’s restless quest for love and redemption, hinting at a larger legend about a saintly figure and his many wives that looms over the rugged landscape. Listeners are drawn into a world where old‑world poetry collides with frontier violence, promising a story that balances fierce action with moments of wistful reflection—an engaging first act that sets the stage for deeper mysteries to come.
Full title
Saint Abe and His Seven Wives A Tale of Salt Lake City, with a Bibliographical Note
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (125K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive
Release date
2016-06-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1841–1901
A prolific Victorian writer, he moved easily between poetry, fiction, and drama, and built a reputation for bold opinions as well as vivid storytelling. His work mixed literary ambition with a sharp, public-minded edge that kept him in the thick of 19th-century cultural debates.
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