The 'Manuscript Found.' Or 'Manuscript Story,' Of The Late Rev. Solomon Spaulding; From A Verbatim Copy Of The Original Now In The Care Of Pres. James H. Fairchild Of Oberlin College, Ohio

A lost frontier romance became the spark for one of America’s most enduring religious controversies. At the centre stands the enigmatic found manuscript story of the Reverend Solomon Spaulding, preserved here in a faithful primary source edition.Written in the early 19th century, Spaulding’s narrative blends early American historical fiction with imaginative pseudo-chronicle, presenting an ancient people on the American continent through the literary device of a discovered record. Its origins are fiercely contested. When parallels were later alleged between this complete manuscript text and the Book of Mormon, Spaulding’s work moved from obscurity to the heart of the origins of Mormonism and the ongoing Mormon authorship debate, becoming a touchstone in American frontier religion and Book of Mormon criticism.Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Essential as a Mormon studies reference and for religious history students, it also offers general readers a rare window into early 19th century America: its storytelling fashions, its fascination with antiquity, and the roots of American religious controversy. For classic-literature enthusiasts and scholars alike, this is both reading experience and cultural artefact.