The 1978 Jonestown Massacre in Guyana is considered one of the greatest peacetime horrors. Almost all of the lives lost were Americans. The death toll exceeded 900, including some 300 who were age 17 and under, making this one of the largest mass deaths in American history.
At the time, Guyanese Prime Minister Burnham dismissed it as “an American problem.” All the books until now on the subject were written by people from outside Guyana. This book is the first by a Guyanese resident and is now available in the US for the first time.
Jim Jones was a charismatic US cult leader who founded what became the Peoples Temple in the 1950s. Following negative media attention in the 1970s, the powerful, controlling preacher moved with some 1,000 of his followers to the Guyanese jungle, where he promised they would establish a utopian community.
On November 18, 1978, U.S. Representative Leo Ryan went to Jonestown to investigate claims of abuse and was murdered along with four members of his delegation. That same day, Jones ordered his followers to ingest poison-laced punch while armed guards stood by. In total, 918 lives were lost.
This is the story of Jonestown finally told from a Guyanese perspective, written by one of Guyana’s most distinguished political leaders who is often referred to as “Guyana’s Gandhi.” Also included are excerpts from the writings of several other Guyanese, including George Danns, Walter Rodney, and Jan Carew.
“A New Look at Jonestown is an elucidating, mesmerising read that transcends Jones' captivating, precipitous slide into madness..” —The Gleaner
“Well worth reading.” —Kaieteur News
(Group read suggestion from Beth McCrea, book club co-founder.)
View on Amazon | Unavailable from Bookshop.org | SecondSale used book