'Manson: The Life And Times Of Charles Manson' Draws Portrait Of Psychopath As A Young Man

Sherryl Connelly at the New York Daily News offers a look at a new book about Charles Manson.

In “Manson: The Life and Times of Charlie Manson,” former investigative journalist and author Jeff Guinn tells the story of one of the most notorious psychopaths of the 20th century with such quiet authority that Manson’s horrific acts seem even more chilling, if that’s possible.

Among other interviews Guinn was able to obtain exclusively, he spoke at length with Pat Krenwinkel, one of the four Manson Family members to carry out the slaughter of Sharon Tate and her friends that night in the mansion on Cielo Drive. The book goes on sale Aug. 6, two days before the 44th anniversary of the carnage.

Guinn draws a masterly portrait of the psychopath as a young man, “graduating” from reform school to prison then to parole when he flirted with the straight life by marrying waitress Rosalie Jean Willis in 1955.

She gave birth to his son, Charles Manson Jr., while he was back in prison on parole violation. Willis deserted him shortly afterward in 1957. Though there would be another marriage to a prostitute, it seems Manson’s growing evil was unchecked after that.

The book is most harrowing as Guinn details the prelude to slaughter as Manson, desperate for the money and fame he felt was his due, relocates with his slavish followers, the Family, to Los Angeles in 1967 trolling for the connection to bring his music, and his genius, to the world.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/hedline-article-1.1410785

Note: Manson sounds interesting, but one should also read, or reread, Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. This is a fasinating account of the arrest and prosecution of Manson.