It is virtually impossible to understand the history of modern Guyana without understanding the role played by Forbes Burnham. Forbes Burnham is the first political biography of this complex and influential figure. It charts how the political party he founded, the People's National Congress, combined nationalist rhetoric, socialist policies, and Pan-Africanist philosophies.

As Premier of British Guiana, Forbes Burnham led the country to independence in 1966 and spent two decades as its head of state. This biography examines how he rose to power by combining nationalist rhetoric, socialist policies, and Pan-Africanist philosophies, leading to a rule that was frequently dictatorial and corrupt, yet also sometimes surprisingly progressive.