The road to Jonestown : Jim Jones and Peoples Temple

Summary: "Jonestown-even now, the name is chilling shorthand for the largest murder-suicide in American history. But what led to the horrifying events of November 1978, when nine hundred people-including nearly three hundred infants and children-died after being ordered to swallow a cyanide-laced drink? The Road to Jonestown is the definitive account of Jim Jones and the tragic events at Jonestown, based on newly released documents and new interviews with survivors, some of whom had never spoken publicly before. In this riveting narrative, bestselling author Jeff Guinn examines Jones's life, showing how he attracted his large congregations. Guinn provides stunning new details of the events leading to the fatal day when so many of his followers not only died for him but killed for him" -- Page 4 of cover.

Record details

ISBN: 9781476763835
ISBN: 1476763836
Physical Description: print
ix, 531 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illlustrations ; 21 cm
Edition: First Simon & Schuster trade paperback edition.
Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2018.
Copyright: ©2017

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 505-508) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Prologue: Guyana, November 18-19, 1978 -- Part One: Indiana -- Lynetta and Jim -- Lynn -- Jimmy -- Growing up -- Richmond -- Marceline -- Beginnings -- A church where you get something now -- People Temple -- Gaining influence -- Father divine -- "All races together" -- A man to be reckoned with -- Breakdown -- Brazil -- Looking West -- Part Two: California -- Redneck valley -- Dead end -- Resurrection -- Carolyn -- A Socialist example -- Money -- Worker bees -- On the road -- Failures -- Drugs -- Sex -- Family -- The planning commission -- Los Angeles -- San Francisco -- Narrow escapes -- Reaching out -- The gang of eight -- Consequences -- The promised land -- Kimo -- City politics -- More money -- Defectors -- "Our year of ascendency" -- New West -- Part Three: Guyana -- Jonestown -- Concerned relatives and the first white night -- Death will be painless -- Betrayals -- Unraveling -- Final days -- "Some place that hope runs out" -- What happened? -- Aftermath.