Helter Skelter (book)

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See also: Helter Skelter (scenario)
Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders
OCLC
15164618

Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders is a 1974 book by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. Bugliosi had served as the prosecutor in the 1970 trial of Charles Manson. The book presents his firsthand account of the cases of Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and other members of the self-described Manson Family. It is the best-selling true crime book in history.[1]

Description

The book recounts and assesses the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of

Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, actress Sharon Tate, and several others.[2]

The book takes its title from the

apocalyptic race war that Manson allegedly believed would occur, which in turn took its name from the song "Helter Skelter" by the Beatles.[2] Manson had been particularly fascinated by the Beatles' White Album
, from which the song came.

Reception and legacy

Helter Skelter was first published in the United States in 1974 and became a bestseller. The book won the 1975

Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book,[3] and was the basis for two television films, released in 1976 and 2004.[4] At the time of Bugliosi's death in 2015, it had sold over seven million copies, making it the best-selling true crime book in history.[1] The book was also the primary influence for the story line of the 2008 film The Strangers.[5][6]

Since its initial hardcover edition, the book has had several printings as a mass market paperback. A 25th anniversary edition (since the crimes) was published in 1994 with an update added by Bugliosi. Bugliosi himself narrated the

Audible.com commissioned Scott Brick
to read an unabridged version of the 25th anniversary edition in 2011.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Stout, David (2015-06-10). "Vincent T. Bugliosi, Manson Prosecutor and True-Crime Author, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  2. ^ a b Rogers, Michael (November 17, 1974). "Manson Meets The Bug: Helter Skelter". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  3. ISBN 9781576079799
    .
  4. ISBN 9780786425037
    .
  5. ^ Rotten, Ryan (August 1, 2007). "EXCL: Never Talk to Strangers". Crave Online. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  6. ^ Rotten, Ryan (May 26, 2008). "Interview: The Strangers' Bryan Bertino (Pt. 2)". Crave Online. Retrieved November 8, 2010.

External links

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