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'''''Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple''''' is a first-hand account of the incidents surrounding [[Peoples Temple]], written by survivor Deborah Layton. The first edition of the book was published by [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]] in hardcover on [[November 3]], [[1998]], and the second edition was published in paperback on [[November 9]], [[1999]].
'''''Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple''''' is a first-hand account of the incidents surrounding [[Peoples Temple]], written by survivor Deborah Layton. The first edition of the book was published by [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]] in hardcover on [[November 3]], [[1998]], and the second edition was published in paperback on [[November 9]], [[1999]].


Deborah Layton was a high-level member of the People's Temple for seven years. When she returned to the United States, Layton submitted an affidavit about the compound in [[Guyana]], which helped convince [[United States Congressman]] [[Leo Ryan]] to make his unfortunate journey there<ref>[http://www.deborahlayton.com/affidavit.html AFFIDAVIT OF DEBORAH LAYTON BLAKEY], RE THE THREAT AND POSSIBILITY OF MASS SUICIDE BY MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE
Deborah Layton was a high-level member of the People's Temple for seven years. She was married to George Phillip Blakey who placed the down payment on the property in Guyana which was purchased by Jim Jones and the People's Temple<ref>[http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/JohnJudge/Jonestown.html The Black Hole of Guyana] George Phillip Blakey's role mentioned in ''The Black Hole of Guyana by John Judge''</ref>. She is the daughter of the late Laurence Laird Layton<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/03/05/MN82014.DTL&hw=jonestown&sn=087&sc=193 "Laurence Laird Layton's obitiuary"]</ref>. When she returned to the United States, Layton submitted an affidavit about the compound in [[Guyana]], which helped convince [[United States Congressman]] [[Leo Ryan]] to make his unfortunate journey there<ref>[http://www.deborahlayton.com/affidavit.html AFFIDAVIT OF DEBORAH LAYTON BLAKEY], RE THE THREAT AND POSSIBILITY OF MASS SUICIDE BY MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE
</ref>. Layton is also the sister of Lawrence John (Larry) Layton, who was the only one ever prosecuted for the murders of the congressional team by Temple members<ref>[http://www.thenation.com/doc/19990201/drew Indiana Jones's Temple of Doom], Bettina Drew, February 1, 1999., [[The Nation]].</ref>. Larry Layton was released on parole in 2002, largely due to the testimony of Vernon Gosney, one of the few survivors of the massacre.<ref>[http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/AboutJonestown/PersonalReflections/bell.htm “Larry Layton and Peoples Temple: Twenty-Five Years Later”] by Frank Bell, “Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple,” sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University</ref>
</ref>. Layton is also the sister of Lawrence John (Larry) Layton, who was the only one ever prosecuted for the murders of the congressional team by Temple members<ref>[http://www.thenation.com/doc/19990201/drew Indiana Jones's Temple of Doom], Bettina Drew, February 1, 1999., [[The Nation]].</ref>. Larry Layton was released on parole in 2002, largely due to the testimony of Vernon Gosney, one of the few survivors of the massacre.<ref>[http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/AboutJonestown/PersonalReflections/bell.htm “Larry Layton and Peoples Temple: Twenty-Five Years Later”] by Frank Bell, “Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple,” sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University</ref>


Revision as of 02:04, 1 December 2008

Seductive Poison
Paperback Edition
AuthorDeborah Layton
LanguageEnglish
SubjectDestructive cults,
mass suicide
Genrenonfiction
PublisherAnchor
Publication date
November 9, 1999
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePaperback, (second edition)
Pages368
ISBNISBN 0385489846 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple is a first-hand account of the incidents surrounding Peoples Temple, written by survivor Deborah Layton. The first edition of the book was published by Doubleday in hardcover on November 3, 1998, and the second edition was published in paperback on November 9, 1999.

Deborah Layton was a high-level member of the People's Temple for seven years. She was married to George Phillip Blakey who placed the down payment on the property in Guyana which was purchased by Jim Jones and the People's Temple[1]. She is the daughter of the late Laurence Laird Layton[2]. When she returned to the United States, Layton submitted an affidavit about the compound in Guyana, which helped convince United States Congressman Leo Ryan to make his unfortunate journey there[3]. Layton is also the sister of Lawrence John (Larry) Layton, who was the only one ever prosecuted for the murders of the congressional team by Temple members[4]. Larry Layton was released on parole in 2002, largely due to the testimony of Vernon Gosney, one of the few survivors of the massacre.[5]

University text

Dr. Philip Zimbardo stated of the book: "Her privileged status as a trusted inner circle member - responsible for depositing millions of dollars in foreign banks - gives her story an untold perspective on this charismatic leader and the transformations of human nature that took place among so many followers under his domination. Layton's is a remarkable narrative that reads like a novel, but sadly is all too true."[6]

The book is required reading at California State University, Fresno, and is a part of the college curriculum. The book is also a part of the curriculum at Gonzaga University's Doctorate Program for Leadership[7].

Media coverage

The book was featured as a cover story by the Chicago Tribune, which stated that "Layton's account is clearly the most important personal testimony to emerge from the Jonestown tragedy."[8]

The book was also featured on the front-page of the San Francisco Chronicle, in an article entitled: "20 Years Later, Jonestown Survivor Confronts Horrors". The article stated that the book "..paints a convincing picture of what it was like to spend seven years in the notorious cult, only to escape a few months before the tragedy that gave Jonestown its infamous place in history as the site of the largest mass suicide in modern times."[9] The book was later a part of the tenth annual San Francisco Bay Area Book Festival[10].

Fox Television's Documentary Series won an Emmy Award for a program in which Layton was featured discussing the book. The book was also featured on Dateline NBC, The Leeza Show, CNN, and the Arts and Entertainment Network.

See also

References

  1. ^ The Black Hole of Guyana George Phillip Blakey's role mentioned in The Black Hole of Guyana by John Judge
  2. ^ "Laurence Laird Layton's obitiuary"
  3. ^ AFFIDAVIT OF DEBORAH LAYTON BLAKEY, RE THE THREAT AND POSSIBILITY OF MASS SUICIDE BY MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLES TEMPLE
  4. ^ Indiana Jones's Temple of Doom, Bettina Drew, February 1, 1999., The Nation.
  5. ^ “Larry Layton and Peoples Temple: Twenty-Five Years Later” by Frank Bell, “Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple,” sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University
  6. ^ Review, Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Stanford University.
  7. ^ Psych 187, Course Guests, Deborah Layton, bio, Stanford University.
  8. ^ Chicago Tribune, Book Review, Cover-Story, November 22, 1998.
  9. ^ 20 Years Later, Jonestown Survivor Confronts Horrors, San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 1998
  10. ^ Tilting Toward the Golden Gate: Great minds gather for the S.F. Bay Area Book Festival, David Kipen, Book Editor, October 10, 1999, San Francisco Chronicle
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