Jonestown
1998 Nominated

Jonestown

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Wilson Harris’ 1996 novel Jonestown charts the attempt of a survivor of the mass suicide and killings at Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, to come to terms with his survival and the others’ deaths. While the events of November 18, 1978 form the background of the novel, Harris is not writing a history of Jonestown, Jim Jones, or even the fictional survivor, Francisco Bone. Instead, he is looking through what the narrator calls a Dream-book: “I feared to write in – and be written by – a demanding book that asserts itself in Dream and questions itself from time to time (even as I question the meaning of survival) as you will see as you read”. In the course of the novel, Francisco Bone will move through his past to explore how he came to be associated with Jim Jones, the connections of Jones to Guyana, and the circumstances surrounding his salvation in the events in Jonestown that November.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Wilson
Harris

Wilson Harris was a notable Guyanese author born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1921. He experienced a diverse life, beginning his career as a land and hydrographic surveyor, which profoundly influenced his literary work. Harris moved to England in 1959 and married Scottish writer Margaret Burns, with whom he shared a long-lasting partnership until her death in 2010. His literary contributions are characterized by an eclectic style that transcends conventional genres, exploring complex themes of identity, history, and the human experience. His debut novel, "Palace of the Peacock" (1960), reflects his fascination with the interplay between reality and illusion, and examines the cultural identities of its characters during an expedition in Guyana's interior. Throughout his career, Harris sought to challenge traditional narratives and promote a deeper understanding of self and community through his philosophical inquiries. Over his lifetime, he published 25 novels and received numerous accolades, including the Guyana Prize for Literature and a knighthood for his contributions to literature. Harris passed away in 2018 at the age of 96, leaving behind a rich legacy of literary exploration and cultural reflection.
Wilson Harris was a notable Guyanese author born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1921. He experienced a diverse life, beginning his career as a land and hydrographic surveyor, which profoundly influenced his literary work. Harris moved to England in 1959 and married Scottish writer Margaret Burns, with whom he shared a long-lasting partnership until her death in 2010. His literary contributions are characterized by an eclectic style that transcends conventional genres, exploring complex themes of identity, history, and the human experience. His debut novel, "Palace of the Peacock" (1960), reflects his fascination with the interplay between reality and illusion, and examines the cultural identities of its characters during an expedition in Guyana's interior. Throughout his career, Harris sought to challenge traditional narratives and promote a deeper understanding of self and community through his philosophical inquiries. Over his lifetime, he published 25 novels and received numerous accolades, including the Guyana Prize for Literature and a knighthood for his contributions to literature. Harris passed away in 2018 at the age of 96, leaving behind a rich legacy of literary exploration and cultural reflection.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
United Kingdom
Author
Publisher
Faber & Faber

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