The Scholar of Moab
The Scholar of Moab is a 2011 American novel written by Steven L. Peck and published by Torrey House Press. Set in Moab, Utah, it follows the life of Hyrum Thayne, a poorly educated aspiring scientist, and his superstitious local community. Thayne's unreliable first-person narrative relays the story, which explores themes including belief, faith, science, and mysticism.
Considered a notable work of Mormon fiction, The Scholar of Moab was recognized with a "best novel" award from the Association for Mormon Letters and was recommended as an "essential reading" in ''By Common Consent.''
Overview
The plot of The Scholar of Moab centers on Hyrum LeRoy Thayne, a high-school dropout from Moab. Considered an unreliable narrator, Thayne works for the United States Geological Survey and longs be a scientist and a scholar, but displays little understanding of what scientific inquiry entails. Thayne is poorly educated, and his writing features frequent misspellings.The book is told from four points of view: Thayne, poet and mistress Dora Daphne Tanner, conjoined twins William and Edward Babcock, and a frame narrator known as the "Redactor." Some sections have characteristics of mysticism and magic realism.
Over time, Thayne becomes morally corrupt and begins to produce fictional stories which are believed by the superstitious Moab community. He comes to believe that his own flaws are preventing him from becoming the scholar that he wants to be. Critics have characterized Thayne as an antihero.