This is the gripping story of the real Charles Manson as told by his
long-time prison administrator, counselor, unofficial "press agent," and
confidant, Ed George.
"Throughout my life, people have asked me about Manson. . . .
'Does he have hypnotic powers?' 'Does he have a diabolical charisma?'
. . .
'Is he crazy?' My response is that for some people, the answer to all
of the above is yes--except for the last question." --EDWARD GEORGE
Charles Manson was perhaps the most infamous criminal of the twentieth
century. Convicted for orchestrating the shocking Tate-LaBianca murders
in 1969, and for two other killings, there has been much written about
him. But not many people knew him as well as Edward George, who over
years of conversations with Manson as his prison administrator,
counselor, unofficial "press agent," and confidant, gained deep insight
into Manson's mind-set. In this updated edition of George's riveting
account, he illuminates the many sides of Manson: charismatic cult
leader, master manipulator, calculated "showman," sly trickster, and
more. George and his coauthor, Dary Matera, begin by detailing the
troubling events of Manson's youth, the historic 1969 murders, and the
subsequent trial that ended an era. They then pull back the curtain on
the intense reality of Manson's turbulent life behind bars and the
events that have transpired since the initial publication of this book
in 1999, including Manson's death in 2017.
