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Nephi Anderson

Image of Nephi Anderson
Nephi Anderson was the most prominent fiction writer of the "Home Literature" period of Mormon Literature. His Added Upon (1898) remains the best exemplar of this period, and has stayed in publication continually for a century. Although Added Upon endures as his most well-known work, most critics agree that it is not his best. During his career, Anderson wrote nine more novels, four books, forty articles and at least forty-eight short stories. He developed his style to overtly integrate the gospel message into his writing. His literary works have been studied critically most prominently by Richard Cracroft. (See his "Nephi, Seer of Modern Times: The Home Literature Novels of Nephi Anderson.")
N. Anderson
Christian and Petronelle Nielson Anderson
Asenath Tillotson (1886 - her death in 1904) Maud Rebecca Symons (1908)
In 1871, at six years of age, immigrated to Utah from Norway with his parents. He traveled widely to speak about genealogy, for which he was known as a major force in the church. He stated that the small genealogical library in Salt Lake City, Utah would become "the largest and best equipped ... in the world."
1865-01-22
Christiania, Norway
1923-01-06

Norway (1892-93)

Great Britain (1904-06)

Central States (1909-10)

Studied at the University of Utah
Anderson taught school in Ogden and Brigham City until becoming Superintendent of schools in Box Elder County, a position he held from 1900-03. He served as editor of the Millennial Star during his mission in Great Britain and taught English at LDS High School when he returned. He edited the Liahona (the voice of the church to the central United States) while in the Central States Mission, and the Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine from 1910-23. Anderson served on the General Board of the Mutual Improvement Association from 1910-23, and while serving on the General Priesthood Committee of the Church prepared several courses of study for priesthood quorums.
"What a field there is [in Mormonism] for the pen of the novelist." "A good story is artistic preaching ... a novel which depicts high ideals and gives to us representations of men and women as they should and can be, exerts an influence for good that is not easily computed."
Male
Author
English

50 Works by Nephi Anderson

Title Role Year Genre
The Dimmed Vision Author 1938 Unassigned
Added Upon Author 1898 Fiction
Piney Ridge Cottage Author 1912 Novel
Marcus King, Mormon Author 1900 Novel
The Castle Builder Author 1909 Fiction
Dorian Author 1921 Fiction
The Boys of Springtown Author 1920 Novel
Romance of a Missionary Author 1919 Novel
John St. John Author 1917 Fiction
A Daughter of the North Author 1915 Novel
At St. Peter's Gate Author Short Story
Story of Chester Lawrence Author 1913 Fiction
Krönta Med: Större Author 1928 Novel
Almina Author Short Story
Conscience from Carthage Author Short Story
The Finding of the Pearl Author Short Story
Grandmother's Rocking Chair Author Short Story
Lester Amsden's Love Author Short Story
Mary, A Story of Sagebrush Bench Author Short Story
Tallie, Bill White's Girl Author Short Story
Consolation Author Poetry
Died in the Field Author Poetry
Home Call Author Poetry
Love's First Conquest Author Poetry
A Vision Author Poetry
Christmas Story on Faith, Hope, and Charity Author Short Story
Distance Lends Enchantment Author Short Story
End of the Rainbow Author Short Story
Exceptions Author Short Story
Finding of Olga Author Short Story
Forfeits Author Short Story
Freedom of Donald Gray Author Short Story
The Girl Author Short Story
The Home Field Author Short Story
The Home Guard Author Short Story
How the Lord Was Good to Aunt Johanna Author Short Story
The Inevitable Author Short Story
John Engleman and the Spirit of Christmas Author Short Story
Little Child Shall Lead Them Author Short Story
Missionary's Release Author Short Story
Out of the Abundance of the Heart Author Short Story
Salvation of Souls Author Short Story
The Straw Author Short Story
Tendrilla Author Short Story
Testing of Gilda Author Short Story
Unbidden Guests Author Short Story
When the Stove Smoked Author Short Story
At Saint Peter's Gate Author Short Story
Forfeits Author Short Story
Out of the Abundance of the Heart Author Short Story
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