Koresh
The True Story of David Koresh, the FBI and the Tragedy at Waco
by Stephan Talty
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Pub Date 6 Apr 2023 | Archive Date 6 Apr 2023
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Description
In the tradition of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song, the story of David Koresh, the FBI and the tragedy at Waco – a book for everyone fascinated by true crime, conspiracy theory, and American extremity.
The assault by federal agents on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993, in which 86 people died, has become a founding myth of the extreme wing of American conservatism, invoked by militiamen, gun rights advocates and the alt-right.
The leader of the evangelical sect at Waco, an extreme form of Seventh-Day Adventism, was Vernon Howell, a charismatic chancer and former victim of sexual abuse who called himself David Koresh. He himself became a sexual predator on a large scale, exploiting many of the women in his compound. He was also a compelling preacher and interpreter of the Bible, notably the Book of Revelation, and was obsessed with the coming of the Apocalypse. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms duly obliged, with tragic results.
Koresh is Stephan Talty's extraordinary, meticulous narration of this event, in all its squalor, strangeness and delirium. Talty doesn't downplay the madness of the cult, but he is humanely sympathetic to Koresh and his followers and is also highly critical of the ATF and FBI, who were spoiling for a violent showdown, and explains why the siege has become so important to those who loathe the state.
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781801102698 |
PRICE | £9.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Koresh: The True Story of David Koresh and the Tragedy at Waco offers a really fascinating and (in my opinion) balanced insight into the history of David Koresh and the events that occurred at Mount Carmel during the 1993 siege.
The author delves into the backstory of Koresh (then Vernon Howell) and his abusive childhood, following his journey through religious exploration in young adulthood to his position as the Leader of the Davidians.
What I found most interesting were the interviews and comments of other people, both at the time and from the present day reflecting back….Davidian survivors, the family members of those lost in 1993, the Government agents present for the standoff and even David’s former love interests.
These details helped to present a well-rounded picture of both the Davidians themselves, their place in history (alongside other tragic events such as Jonestown) and the building of government mistrust in the US.