Ed Sanders. First edition (stated), first printing. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1971. Both unclipped dust jacket and hardcover are in Very Good+ condition. There is some toning on some of the pages. Dark blue cloth boards stamped in white with illustrated endpapers. No writing or markings in the book, 412 pp. Contains 3 maps.
A very scarce first edition copy of this early and comprehensive Charles Mansion history. Sanders' unnerving and detailed look at the horror dealt by Manson and his followers, widely regarded as a classic of the true crime genre. Chapter 5, which includes material about The Process, is complete and intact.
The author draws on two solid years of in-depth interviews with participants and witnesses to the Tate-LaBianca murders, including Manson, visits to the Spahn ranch and other sites in Inyo County and Death Valley, investigations into secret occult societies, motorcycle gangs, and countercultural phenomena to place the Manson family in the context of the 1960's - 1970's and attempts to explain how Charlie manipulated his followers into doing his bidding.
