The Book of Mormon is an intricate work of American literature. Howe states: "True or not, the Book of Mormon is a powerful epic written on a grand scale with a host of characters, a narrative of human strug- gle and conflict, of divine intervention, heroic good and atrocious evil, of prophecy, morality, and law. Its narrative structure is com- plex" (314). Howe's reliance on Bushman is further apparent when he (Howe) admits that, although the Book of Mormon reflects some elements of nineteenth-century culture (like anti-Ma-
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sonry), the book's primary themes are biblical, prophetic, and patriarchal, not democratic or optimistic. Howe concludes: "The Book of Mormon should rank among the great achievements of American literature, but it has never been accorded the status it deserves, since Mormons deny Joseph Smith's authorship, and non-Mormons, dismissing the work as a fraud, have been more likely to ridicule than read it"
